A popular United States airport was just named the most beautiful in the world by a panel of expert architecture judges.
In December 2025, San Francisco International Airport (SFO)’s newest terminal was awarded the prestigious Prix de Versailles, an international architecture award that honors the most beautiful buildings that were newly built or renovated every year. To award the airport prize, judges use criteria like intelligent sustainability, cultural resonance, public value, and aesthetic excellence.
SFO’s recently completed Terminal 1, named after LGBTQ+ rights activist Harvey Milk, was given the first-place prize in the airport category.
Harvey Milk Terminal 1 was completed in June 2024, with a total of 27 new gates. The terminal’s design features high ceilings, creating airy spaces that are flooded with natural light.
In addition to the sunny gates and sweeping spaces, there’s a lot for passengers to enjoy in the award-winning terminal. Amenities include a free yoga room, two play areas for kids, including one called “Tree Town,” which features a play structure made of salvaged and refinished California oak tree trunks, as well as an art gallery with rotating exhibits and a separate exhibit space showcasing Harvey Milk’s life and legacy.
"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,” said SFO Airport Director Mike Nakornkhet. “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."
From a sustainability standpoint, utilizes state-of-the-art sustainability features to shrink its carbon footprint. The building is outfitted with photovoltaic panels, high efficiency escalators and elevators, low energy displacement ventilation systems, and more, according to architecture firm Gensler, which helped design the terminal.
With these designs, the terminal significantly cuts its energy consumption, with a 70% reduction in energy use intensity, a 79% reduction to total carbon emissions and a 50% reduction in potable water use.
Passengers will also find four lounges in the terminal, including three run by airlines (Delta SkyClub, American Airlines Admirals Club, and an Alaska Airlines lounge), as well as one Priority Pass lounge called The Club, which offers spa-style showers and a cozy fireplace.
SFO’s Terminal 1 was also designed to have a food hall atmosphere. There are outposts of various local restaurants, including a location of the iconic Perry’s, which offers American comfort food, Vietnamese sandwich spot Bun Mee, Southern fare from Farmerbrown, and more.
Although the Harvey Milk Terminal 1 scored the top prize, five other airports around the world were recognized on the short list for the award. Those honorees include new terminals at China’s Yantai Penglai International Airport, France’s Marseille Provence Airport, Reunion Island’s Roland Garros Airport, Osaka’s Kansai International Airport, and Portland International Airport.
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