SFO Earns Top Prize in Prestigious International Design Award

SFO Earns Top Prize in Prestigious International Design Award

Harvey Milk Terminal 1 earns highest honor in UNESCO Prix Versailles Awards

SAN FRANCISCO - December 9, 2025 - The San Francisco International Airport (SFO) was awarded the top prize in UNESCO's prestigious Prix Versailles awards, recognizing outstanding achievements in architectural and interior design around the world. In June, UNESCO included SFO's Harvey Milk Terminal 1 on the 2025 World's Most Beautiful Airports List. At the Prix Versailles World Ceremony held in Paris on December 4, 2025, SFO was honored with the top prize in a field of laureates that included Yantai Penglai International Airport in China, the Marseille Provence and Roland Garros airports in France, the Kansai International Airport in Japan, and Portland International Airport in Oregon.

"We are truly honored to be named the top airport in the world by Prix Versailles," said Airport Director Mike Nakornkhet. "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. 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."

"Each year, the Prix Versailles challenges us to look beyond aesthetics alone and to evaluate architecture and design as a force capable of shaping the world we inhabit," said 2025 World Jury Chairperson Irina Bokova. "It invites us to measure creativity not only by its boldness, but by its integrity - its ability to respond to cultural context, to uplift communities, and to contribute meaningfully to a sustainable future."

The Harvey Milk Terminal 1 project opened in four phases. The first phase opened in July 2019 with 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. Follow us on x.com/flysfo and facebook.com/flysfo.