The San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has been among the World’s Most Beautiful Airports by Prix Versailles, a series of international awards to recognize outstanding achievements in architectural and interior design. The awards are presented annually with the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris.
“We designed Harvey Milk Terminal 1 to establish a new global benchmark for the airport experience at SFO,” said Airport Director Mike Nakornkhet. “This facility was designed to be extraordinary in every way… as a place of relaxation, a place of sustainable design and operation, a place of inspiring artwork and museum exhibits, and a place to share the story of pioneering civil rights leader Harvey Milk. Being named among the World’s Most Beautiful Airports by Prix Versailles is the ultimate validation of our efforts, and we are truly grateful for this honor.”

“The mark left by airports stems chiefly from their ever-growing role in international exchanges,” said Secretary General of the Prix Versailles, Jérôme Gouadain. “As a result, this infrastructure must resolve formidable difficulties in terms of flow management and the aircraft themselves. But this new brand of facilities can also be seen as works of art, or at least as things of beauty. In fact, we should strive to make this happen, given their inescapability in our built environments and our landscapes.”
The Harvey Milk Terminal 1 project opened in four phases. The first phase opened in July 2019 with the nine departure gates, followed in April 2020 by nine additional gates, an exterior façade with Harvey Milk signage, and a new ticket counter area. The third phase opened in May 2021 with seven more departure gates, a new post-security connector to the International Terminal, a new museum gallery, and a new display of exhibit content honoring the life and legacy of Harvey Milk. The fourth and final phase opened in June 2024 with a new north check
in lobby, a new mezzanine-level security checkpoint, two additional aircraft gates, and a new connecting walkway that links all SFO terminals post-security.
About Prix Versailles
Announced each year at UNESCO since 2015, the Prix Versailles is a series of architectural competitions that shine a light on the finest contemporary projects worldwide. At the intersection between multiple disciplines, the members of the Prix Versailles World Jury are tasked with awarding twenty-four World Titles from among the Selected Sites – in the categories of Airports, Campuses, Passenger Stations, Sports, Museums, Emporiums, Hotels and Restaurants.
The Official List – which pays tribute to innovation, creativity, reflections of local heritage, ecological efficiency and the values of social interaction and participation, which the United Nations holds in high regard – is in line with the principles of intelligent sustainability, taking the projects’ ecological, social and cultural impacts into consideration.
About San Francisco International Airport
SFO is committed to providing an extraordinary airport experience, with seamless access, thoughtful amenities, sustainable design, and inspiring artwork and exhibits.
For up-to-the-minute departure and arrival information, airport maps and details on shopping, dining, cultural exhibitions, ground transportation, and more, visit flysfo.com.
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SFO Named Among “World’s Most Beautiful Airports” for 2025

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