St. Louis Lambert International Airport — Local services in St. Ann

Lambert Airport's four concrete domes have been St. Louis's icon since 1956. These elegant, weathered vaults are rare survivors when American infrastructure aspired to poetic expression over mere utility. Minoru Yamasaki, with Hellmuth, Yamasaki and Leinweber, conceived Lambert's main terminal as "Grand Central of the Air," its soaring concrete shells evoking flight and ancient precedents like Roman Baths. Each 120-foot square vault appears weightless, demonstrating Yamasaki's genius for monumental scale with ethereal lightness, later in his WTC. The terminal was visually striking and revolutionized airport architecture. Before Lambert, terminals were pragmatic boxes; afterward, they became civic monuments to flight's drama. Yamasaki's influence inspired Eero Saarinen's TWA Terminal at JFK and international designs like Dulles to Charles de Gaulle. Lambert's brilliance dimmed as aviation evolved. Additions cluttered its elegant spaces. Post-9/11 security requirements compromised the flowing interior. By 2010, the terminal became a cautionary tale of modernism's struggle with evolving functions. A 2011 tornado shattering half its windows symbolized its fragility. The $70 million renovation by exp US Services marked a pivot in treating modernist infrastructure. Rather than demolition (modernism's typical fate), restoration embraced preservation while accommodating contemporary needs. Architect Tom Hoepf surgically removed detritus, restoring the terminal's essential clarity. The vault restoration was a striking element. "Popcorn" surfacing was stripped, replaced with crisp white acoustical plaster matching Yamasaki's vision and improving sound. Triangulated skylights between vaults, long hidden, were revealed. New LEDs brought energy efficiency and programmable color for events. The restoration decluttered the terminal. Baggage screening machines retreated behind walls, and signage was rationalized. It earned multiple AIA awards, with jurors praising its "selfless, respectful" approach to Yamasaki's vision. The exp US Services renovation proved Lambert's significance transcended nostalgia. It showed modernist infrastructure could be sensitively updated, not discarded—a lesson as America confronts its aging mid-century building stock. Lambert faces its most ambitious transformation: a $2.8 billion consolidation by HOK, merging two terminals into one facility with up to 62 gates. Unlike many redesigns that erase history, HOK plans to preserve the iconic domes, integrating them into a contemporary facility. HOK's selection creates architectural symmetry. In 1951, HOK's predecessor firm recruited Gyo Obata to assist Yamasaki with Lambert's original design. HOK co-CEO Eli Hoisington noted the firm was "essentially founded off the back of the first Lambert project." They now guide its evolution, a full circle in architecture. HOK's proposal is an intriguing approach to architectural heritage. Hoisington intends to "truly reuse them and give them new life," not treat domes as museum pieces. This philosophy—preservation through active integration, not passive monumentalization—suggests how other cities might approach aging landmarks. HOK has airport experience, completing LaGuardia's acclaimed Terminal B and Salt Lake City's new passenger terminal. These projects show HOK's ability to balance operational demands with distinctive design, earning AIA, ULI, and Prix Versailles awards. Lambert's ongoing transformation offers a counternarrative to America's typical infrastructure approach. Instead of construction/demolition cycles, it shows how architectural continuity can be maintained across generations, letting buildings evolve yet preserve essential character. For travelers awed by Lambert's graceful concrete shells, this matters. When most American airports offer little more than efficient processing, Lambert reminds us infrastructure can aspire to poetry. Its domes, recontextualized for new generations, testify to architecture's power to transcend mere function, expressing flight's enduring wonder as...

Let me start out by saying St. Louis Lambert International Airport has some of the most wonderful Janitorial and Staff in general. They were very personable and kind which is the reason for the two stars because without them, there would be no stars. TSA is a different story.

It was our Daughter's first flight a week and a half ago. She was flying by herself and we were all a bundle of nerves. Everything went smoothly until we got to security. We paid for Priority Boarding but we were sent to the wrong line. Okay. No big deal. My Husband told the check-in Lady that it's our Daughter's first flight and he was just looking to make sure she was okay. He then asked if he could give her a quick hug and was told very rudely, "Hurry up and make it quick, I have work to do!" Although her delivery was rough, we appreciated her allowing it.

We then realized she left her water bottle and sweatshirt with us, so he asked a Security Lady if she could give it to her. Her abrupt response was "I guess, but I can't give her the water bottle!" Understandable again. We were watching our Daughter go through Security off to the side like we were told and the same Lady approached us and said we needed to move. Again, my Husband explained why we were there and her ill-mannered response was, "I saw you bring her here. She's fine! You need to move!" She was so rude that another passenger in line offered to take the Water Bottle to her for us. I politely told my Husband to step aside and let's go so there wouldn't be an issue.

The Young Lady that was scanning the bags was very sweet to our Daughter and even made her smile so that made me feel a little bit better.

A little while later our Daughter texted us and said she asked an employee for directions to her Gate and was yelled at to the point that she was about to cry. I told her to just find her a place to sit and quietly wait for her flight. Luckily, the Woman she was sitting next to was very sweet and helped her navigate her way through the airport and on her flight.

I understand that people have a job to do and it was very early in the morning. The issue we have is that we were not asking for any special treatment or anything outrageous but we were still treated very poorly for being concerned Parents. Everyone should be treated accordingly. We weren't unruly or disrespectful in any way so we didn't deserve the attitude or dismissal that we were subjected to. There was definitely a lack of understanding and humility that day.

I try not to leave negative reviews, but this experience was enough for us to never return to this airport and let everyone know about how we...

Disappointing Experience at St. Louis International Airport As a frequent traveler for over 30 years, my recent experience at St. Louis International Airport was one of the most frustrating I’ve had. The overall service quality across multiple vendors and restaurants was extremely poor. We attempted to purchase items and food from several stores and eateries throughout the airport, but were met with consistently slow, inattentive service. In one instance, a staff member at a bagel shop was observed engaging in unhygienic behavior behind the counter. At two retail locations, service was sluggish and unprofessional, with staff appearing distracted or disengaged. At dining spots like Steak 'n Shake, despite relatively short lines (2–5 people), wait times for food were excessive—often 30 minutes or more. This doesn’t include the additional 20–30 minutes spent just waiting to place an order. Many employees seemed more focused on chatting with each other than assisting customers, and numerous travelers appeared visibly frustrated—some even leaving the lines altogether. Starbucks employees were the worse. Completely disengaged with the customers and ignored customers. Additionally, the terminal was uncomfortably warm, with indoor temperatures noticeably higher than the 80°F weather outside, adding to the discomfort of the experience. Overall, the lack of urgency, professionalism, and customer care at this airport was deeply disappointing. I hope the management team addresses these concerns to improve future traveler experiences. We will not go back to this Annual Business 3 day event again. We wil move our location to avoid the this airport and the...