New Kids Play Area Opens at Pittsburgh Airport

PHOTOS COURTESY OF PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

If your little ones are looking for a place to recharge, lounge and have some fun in between travels, the newly updated Pittsburgh International Airport’s Kids Play Area is the place to be.

Opened on Feb. 11, the expanded, family-friendly area is part of PIT’s initiative to reshape and enhance travelers’ experience. The airport, which opened its $1.7 billion new terminal in the fall, recently was awarded the innovative solutions for Universal Design certification from the University of Buffalo’s Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access.

Seeing as how the airport conducted a significant amount of research to better understand the needs of passengers traveling with children, it’s no surprise the Kids Play Area has been thoughtfully designed to meet their needs— and improve upon them.

“It’s not really just a physical space, so let’s really think about how we best serve passengers traveling with children, specifically at the moment when they’re waiting for their flight,” says Siri Betts-Sonstegard, PIT’s senior vice president of experience and design, in a statement, “We’re trying to help somebody get ‘the wiggles’ out for their child because we understand that there is a need for that.”

Along with the SPUN Chair, WillyGoat Climbing Mound and a runway-themed rug, Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh exhibit designers Nick McClintock and Toby Fraley also helped develop two custom pieces for the Kids Play Area, including signature wallpaper with aviation themes and a space-themed, interactive art installation. While the play area is catered towards children ages 6 to 10, the fun doesn’t stop there, especially when it comes to the needs of caregivers.

“Part of universal access is about how you take care of caregivers and make sure that they get what they need; that’s so difficult for parents traveling with kids,” Betts-Sonstegard says.
That’s why the Kids Play Area has newly divided spaces that include a nursing lounge, a restroom, picnic tables and plenty of places where adults can recharge while keeping an eye on their kids.

“Parents need a place to unpack and repack bags and charge their devices. So, the room is divided. One part has spaces for active motor skill play and the other has a lounge area for the parents with a picnic table so people can eat and chill or work on their laptops. You used to see a lot of parents camped out on the floor by their gates,” says Bryanna Ellis, a project manager with the experience and design team, in a statement.

One of the driving factors for the new addition was a focus on creating easy access, comfortable environments and welcoming spaces for all. Constructed by members of PIT’s field and facilities maintenance teams, the Kids Play Area is now closer to the terminal.

“We wanted to not just move the physical space but actually think about what is the service we are providing to passengers traveling with children. What are their needs? What is our opportunity to serve them?” says Betts-Sonstegard.

The previous play area, known as Kidsport, opened in 1983 and was one of the first airport spaces designed for children. Just as the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh had collaborated on the original play space, the museum team contributed to the development of the updated play space.

“It was a wonderful opportunity to create a resource space for families,” says Anne Fullenkamp, senior director of creative experiences at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, in a statement. “What I love is that you have a play space plus a place for families and what they need when they are traveling.”