On the morning of September 17, 2008 the Smith Terminal changed from a passenger terminal to an office building. All airline activity shifted to the North Terminal, leaving only Wayne County Airport Authority offices and a few small vendor offices behind.
The five months since have seen both subtle and stark changes. The Smith Terminal “C” concourse is nearly demolished, Concourses “A” and “B” have been closed off, and former airline offices and concession spaces are being retrofitted.
The North Terminal Construction Office has relocated from the Berry Terminal into what was once a cafeteria style restaurant on the lobby level of the Smith Terminal, looking out over the apron. The Noise Office has moved into a former Southwest Airlines office space in the check-in lobby, vacating the off-site Noise House on Pennsylvania Road in Huron Township.
The former check-in lobby will soon be the home to the Environmental Department, which is moving into the former retail office space. Technology Services will be moving into former concession space in the lobby over the next few months. Finally, Purchasing, Contract Compliance and the Diversity Program Offices will move into the former USAirways – Frontier ticket counter and office area in the west end of the check-in lobby.
This consolidation of the WCAA offices will serve to make the operations more efficient as well as reduce airport operating costs.
