The Edge of Air, Land and Sea. Setting Standards at SFO.
San Francisco is known for its rich culture, natural and built environments, and the way it leaves people wanting more every time they visit. That’s why, when it came time to redesign the Harvey Milk Terminal at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), the desire was a custom design that makes every layover feel like “home.”
Bentley has sustained a long and healthy relationship with SFO; Bentley products were installed in the International Terminal for 15 consecutive years. After the 15-year life, the product still looked new. When replacing the carpet to achieve a new overall terminal aesthetic, Mauricio Avella, SFO architect, said “I wish I had never pulled the Bentley out of the terminal. I got 15 years of life out of it, and now I am only getting 3-5 years with competitive products.”
SFO sees over 51 million travelers annually. The Gensler and Woods Bagot design teams knew any flooring options would need to stand up to peak performance, aesthetic, and sustainable standards. These standards were so exceptional, that the Harvey Milk Terminal 1 would be awarded the Prix Versailles award for the “World’s Most Beautiful Airport” in December 2025.
When presented with this award, the jury noted the terminal is “the fruit of an ambitious transformation” that “provides a soothing, restorative setting for travelers.”
Capturing the City’s Spirit
Every custom design process begins with inspiration. Tasked with inviting each traveler into the Bay Area’s culture and environment to experience the edge of land, air and sea, the design teams drew inspiration from the region’s natural environments. Local minerals and spices in particular informed the product’s pattern, texture and color palette. Numerous colorways were created, with some variations having more golds, while others had more hints of paprika. This way, just like walking the shores of San Fransisco, the traveler would be met with unexpected but delightful surprises in the eccentric colors shaping the city.
The final design celebrated the environment of Northern California, capturing exploration and discovery throughout the areas many natural beauties. While some experiences are based on speed and efficiency, others reflect quiet and relaxation. The design approach paired hard lines with soft edges, reflecting the duality of the social ethos of the Bay Area community.
The custom carpet pattern had to showcase the movement of the city and to provide a palette where the bold yellows, golds and purples could live in harmony. This design incorporated a blend of two different products and patterns, tocreate a thoughtfully designed floorplate that provides depth, while also creating a non-repeating pattern in order to make future replacement of individual carpet tiles an easy process.
A Beacon of Sustainability
The demand for sustainable solutions in San Francisco is high and requirements had to be met to maintain those standards. A consideration from the jury when awarding the Prix Versailles award was the terminal’s 79% reduction in carbon emissions and 59% decrease in energy usage. Achieving this reduction also required partners whose practices and products were committed to the same sustainable principles.
Operating in the world’s first LEED EB Gold O+M manufacturing facility and exceeding the requirements of California manufacturing, Bentley takes a step ahead to maintain sustainable manufacturing and products. All Bentley carpet is made with premium fiber and backing solutions in order to offer a lower cost of ownership, ease of maintenance and a longer life cycle – particularly in extreme traffic environments such as airports. If SFO was to showcase its city and all of its attributes, it had to craft this terminal with a sustainable foundation in mind.
The final result provided a Terminal designed with both the user and the city in mind. Travelers are met with an engaging space that evokes the excitement of the culture, landscape and natural beauty that San Francisco has to offer. Each space was created with sustainable materials that will stand the test of time and keep the space looking fresh years down the road. And, with Bentley’s custom design process, the carpet provided is as unique as the city itself.
Offering this high-end tailored custom solution is part of the Bentley process. To explore custom colors and patterns, reach out to your local Account Executive to explore your perfect match.