ARCHITECTURAL RENDERINGS OF THE NEW TERMINAL BY GENSLER + HDR IN ASSOCIATION WITH LUIS VIDAL + ARCHITECTS

Want to be a guinea pig to try out the new terminal at Pittsburgh International Airport before it opens this fall?

The Allegheny County Airport Authority plans to recruit 3,000 to 4,000 volunteers to test all aspects of the passenger experience during September — including parking, wayfinding, getting through security, finding gates, finding the baggage carousels, finding transportation, etc.

This essentially will be a “full-scale dress rehearsal that will envision what a typical day at the airport will look and feel like. This will be the first opportunity to see the building truly come alive,” according to an article this week in Blue Sky News, the airport’s news service.

Although signups to become volunteers have not officially begun, those who are interested in participating can submit their email addresses here now to be among the first in line.

An opening date for the $1.7 billion terminal has not been announced, but a gala to celebrate its opening has been scheduled for Oct. 3.

By using volunteers, PIT’s Operational Readiness Activation and Transition team is “aiming to re-create what peak travel will look and feel like on that first day — bringing together people, processes, facilities and systems in a safe environment to test, learn and adjust before opening,” according to Blue Sky News.

“We want them to break the system… so we can get all the kinks out,” Paul Hoback, chief development officer and executive vice president of the Allegheny County Airport Authority, said about the volunteers during a media tour in May.

The readiness team already has been testing all sorts of areas of the terminal as the finishing touches are put on the mammoth construction project, which is currently 91% completed. Airport officials have said it actually will be 92% completed when opened, since some of the current Landside Terminal pieces have to be dismantled afterward as well as other work done later.

PIT is looking for volunteers of all abilities, and feedback will be collected from all. It emphasized that the service is voluntary; no compensation will be provided.

“This is a unique chance for volunteers to actively shape and improve the new PIT experience. Your insights won’t just be appreciated — they’ll be essential in helping [the Allegheny County Airport Authority] get it right,” according to the Blue Sky News article.