Travelers enter this repurposed parking structure at a centralized light rail station embedded in the middle of the structure, passing by these attractions on their way to either of RDU's two terminals. Travelers enter Terminal 1 underground, beneath the apron concrete for Terminal 1's domestic/regional gates. Fiber optic bundles embedded in the concrete above bring light and a sense of grand entry to this compressed entry hall. A BagBot automated handling system and EasyBreezy Security station bring future technology and hassle-free entry to this space. The baggage handling system below is also open to view from this entry hall, connecting the traveler with the incredible machinery and logistics of this process for the first time.

After the underground entry hall, an atrium provides vertical circulation up to the streamlined layout of the Terminal 1 concourse. The concourse is divided lengthwise by domestic and international gates. Circulation along the concourse is punctuated by five elliptical interior garden spaces, each embodying a different ecosystem found in North Carolina, connecting travelers (especially international ones) to the state. These gardens give relief to the length of the streamlined concourse, while providing rest and relaxation for the traveler. The curving wood glulam lattice structure, seeming to take root in these gardens, references the forests of North Carolina. The complex curviliear form gives the space a dynamic flow. 

On the international gate side, a SkyView level hovers above the holding spaces below to provide dazzling views out to the runway unobstructed by the jetways below, further connecting the traveler with the romance of aviation. This second level also provides potential double-level jetway access for A380-sized aircraft.