New to the west end of Barbara Jordan Terminal is I VINI’s, an Italian market that opened on the concourse near Gate 20, while the popular Annie’s Café & Bar will close for renovations. Strengthening and modernization to the approach and departure drop off road ramps to the terminal begins. Glimpse into the future with a rendering of the terminal expansion now at Gate 3. 

I VINI’s Italian market now open, renovations set for Annie’s Café

I VINI’s, the sleek new Milan-style restaurant and wine bar that spans 124-feet from Gates 20-23 on the terrazzo concourse opened on Friday, July 28. The Italian, espresso café and wine bar concept, founded by local Annie’s Café & Bar owner, Love Nance, opens daily at 9 a.m. and closes when the last scheduled flight departs the west end of the Barbara Jordan Terminal.

The I VINI design includes floating chips hovering over the brightly colored central bar, a fresh food display case and a seating area located near the flight display monitors. The I VINI menu, based on fresh Italian food and strong coffees, includes ciabatta sandwiches, rigatoni pasta, bruschetta boxes, salads, pizza, pastries and a variety of wines. I VINI’s is operated by concessionaire Delaware North and offers items from minority and woman-owned Paseo Brands of Austin.

Also happening on the west end of the Barbara Jordan Terminal, Annie’s Café and Farm Aire near Gate 18 will close for renovation. A redesigned bar, musical performance stage with open seating, additional seat counters, and a centralized market kiosk are planned for the 1,914 square foot café. Renovations are estimated to be complete by the end of the year. Soon, temporary walls will mark the beginning of renovations to the café that first opened inside the airport in 2013.

Drop-off and pick-up embankment work begins

The traveling public will see work underway to strengthen the approach and departure embankment ramps leading to the terminal upper level roadway. The strengthening includes the drilling and installation of soil anchors into the structures of the upper-level embankment ramps to stabilize the walls with thru-tie anchors and soil nails, installing structural concrete, wall facings and replacing the existing approach slabs.

Passengers may see traffic channeling devices and drums to guide vehicles. The ramp may funnel down to one lane. Peak travel times and holiday periods are considered in the construction schedule.

The repairs are estimated to be completed in early 2018, to strengthen the 18-year-old embankments.

Look into the future: Terminal expansion rendering at Gate 3

Want a glimpse into the future? A rendering posted at Gate 3 in the Barbara Jordan Terminal, will give passengers a sense of how it will feel to walk into the new terminal expansion at the Austin airport. Upon completion, the expansion will add 9 gates and increase hold room, concession and concourse space by 29 percent at the Barbara Jordan Terminal.

New terminal space includes:

• 88,359 square feet of concourse space
• 28,205 square feet of mezzanine and platform space
• 5,770 square feet of outdoor patio space
• Expanded domestic and international boarding gates
• Pet relief area
• Silver LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environment Design) certification in all phases of the project.

LEED certification includes reduction, disposal and recycling of building materials, to increase water efficiency and the use of regional resources. The terminal expansion will include intelligent water fixtures and recycling collection areas, natural light with floor-to-ceiling windows, reflective rooftops and lighting, energy-efficient equipment and HVAC quality systems.

The 9-gate expansion is estimated to be complete in 2019. It will increase the terminal’s contact gates with boarding bridges from 24 to 33.