At a Glance
- San Francisco International Airport’s Harvey Milk Terminal 1 has been crowned the 2025 Prix Versailles “World’s Most Beautiful Airport.”
- The terminal records a 79 % drop in carbon emissions and a 59 % cut in energy use compared with its predecessor.
- Features include 30 Bay Area artworks, gender-neutral restrooms, wellness zones, and a “quiet terminal” policy.
- Why it matters: Travelers get a calmer, greener hub while the win spotlights U.S. design on the global stage.
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has scooped the 2025 Prix Versailles title for the planet’s most beautiful airport, beating high-profile contenders in China, France, and Japan. The honor, announced in December 2025 at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, singles out the newly rebuilt Harvey Milk Terminal 1 for its looks, sustainability, and passenger experience.
The winning design
Jurors praised the terminal as “the fruit of an ambitious transformation” that delivers “a soothing, restorative setting for travelers,” News Of Los Angeles reported, citing coverage from Travel and Leisure. Gensler, the architecture firm behind the project, noted in a press release that the building achieves a 79 % reduction in carbon emissions and a 59 % decrease in energy usage.
Natural light floods the gate areas, while 30 commissioned artworks celebrate local culture. Amenities include:
- Gender-neutral restrooms
- Wellness zones
- Accessible wayfinding
- Quiet-terminal protocol that relies on digital boards instead of loudspeaker announcements
Global competition
The Prix Versailles panel reviews airports, campuses, stations, hotels, museums, restaurants, and shopping centers each year. Alongside SFO, the 2025 shortlist featured:
- Terminal 2 at Yantai Penglai International Airport, China
- Roland Garros Airport arrivals terminal, Réunion Island, France
- Terminal 1 at Kansai International Airport, Osaka, Japan
Special prizes went to:
- Marseille Provence Airport Terminal 1, France, for interior design
- Portland International Airport, Oregon, for exterior design of its main terminal
Notable omissions from the winner’s circle included Singapore’s Changi Airport, famed for its indoor waterfall, and Hong Kong International, known for luxury retail and its Sky Bridge viewing platform.
A tribute to Harvey Milk
The terminal opened in 2024 as the first airport facility named for an LGBTQ+ leader. An ongoing exhibition, Harvey Milk: Messenger of Hope, displays dozens of photographs chronicling the politician’s life and career. The installation is part of the SFO Museum.
Airport leadership reacts
“We are truly honored to be named the top airport in the world by Prix Versailles,” Airport Director Mike Nakornkhet said, per an SFO release. “Harvey Milk Terminal 1 was designed to establish a new benchmark for an extraordinary airport experience, bringing to life our mission to put people and planet first. Being the first airport terminal in the world named for an LGBTQ+ leader only enhances the significance of this recognition, and my thanks go out to the entire project team for this milestone achievement.”
Jury perspective
“Each year, the Prix Versailles challenges us to look beyond aesthetics alone and to evaluate architecture and design as a force capable of shaping the world we inhabit,” the jury chairperson said in the release. “It invites us to measure creativity not only by its boldness, but by its integrity – its ability to respond to cultural context, to uplift communities, and to contribute meaningfully to a sustainable future.”
Key takeaways
- SFO’s Harvey Milk Terminal 1 now holds the 2025 Prix Versailles title for world’s most beautiful airport.
- Environmental gains include 79 % lower carbon emissions and 59 % less energy use.
- Travelers benefit from art installations, wellness areas, and a quieter environment.
- The award underscores U.S. leadership in eco-friendly, passenger-centric design.
Marcus L. Bennett reported this story for News Of Los Angeles.
