Regular passengers who use Washington Reagan National Airport will be delighted to learn that a new terminal is being built. It will replace a crowded waiting area and awkward walk out to the aircraft.

Gate 35X at the end of the commuter gate area in Reagan necessitates passengers waiting in a cramped downstairs space before walking out to a shuttle bus that takes them to their aircraft’s parking spot before boarding outside in the elements.

Now, a new 14-gate terminal concourse building is to be built in place of Gate 35X, to the north of the current Terminal C. It will bring more public spaces, a bright and airy waiting area, and contact gates to board the aircraft directly without going outdoors.

This new terminal area will feature 14,000 square feet of additional space with dining and retail options to use while waiting for a flight, plus views across the tarmac and runways.

The team behind the design of the new terminal have been taking inspiration from recent developments at other airports around the country, but some think it is too sterile and plain and should better represent the location at the heart of the nation’s capital.

The development has an anticipated cost of $374 million. Much of the inspiration for the project came from a visit to New York’s LaGuardia airport — itself a crowded domestic airport hemmed in by its waterside location yet facing growing demand from passengers and airlines and undergoing massive redevelopment. The result contained “notebooks full of ideas,” according to the project’s website.

In addition to the new terminal concourse, the airport is also constructing two security checkpoint buildings. One of the project leaders, Paul Malandrino, said: “We’re setting ourselves up for great things once we open up these two new facilities.” Joint leader Richard Golinowski added. “They will really bring a breath of fresh air to Reagan National Airport.”

Andrew Pressman of the Washingtonian thinks more consideration should be put into the design. He comments: “Planes that land at Reagan pass right by DC’s landmarks on their descent. As a result, the architecture of the nation’s capital becomes an integral part of air travel into and out of the city. A more inventive design might celebrate the famous structures nearby and have its own distinctive identity as a regional-transportation hub.”

The new concourse will of course be modern, spacious and serve its purpose well. It will reduce walking times, add more convenience and concessions, and remove that awkward journey out to the aircraft.

Construction is already underway of the 225,000-square-foot concourse, with the steel structure in place and walls and glass panels now being placed.

The estimated completion date is the rather non-committal “by 2021.” While work continues, there are ongoing traffic backups and road closures to deal with, but the result will be an airport better able to cope with its record passenger figures and offering passengers a better experience of flying in and out of the capital.