Tuesday, June 16, 2026
Terminal 1 at San Diego International Airport has been recognized by Prix Versailles as one of the world’s most beautiful airports, joining seven international airports and airport terminals named in the organization’s 2026 list of laureates. Announced yesterday, the award celebrates facilities that the Prix Versailles describes as “innovative, inescapable hallmarks of their regions and their eras.”
The defining feature of Terminal 1 is the iconic “Luminous Wave,” an 800-foot-long, 33-foot-tall, curved glass entry facade inspired by sunlight reflecting off the Pacific Ocean. It incorporates concave insulated glass units with a graduated vertical frit pattern supported by horizontal architecturally exposed structural steel trusses that follow the wave’s distinctive form.
Enclos provided design-assist and design-build services for more than 365,000 square feet of facade at Terminal 1, including the Luminous Wave, unitized curtainwall, unitized clerestory windows, and glass canopy. Working alongside the project team during design, Enclos helped develop facade solutions that optimized daylight transmission while controlling glare. Our team also led visual and performance mock-ups that validated the system’s design, manufacturing and installation prior to construction.
Founded in 2015, the Prix Versailles honors exceptional architecture and design projects that beautify and improve the living environment. In December, three airports or airport terminals from the 2026 laureates list will receive a World Title designation during a ceremony at UNESCO headquarters in Paris.
You can learn more about the Prix Versailles’ 2026 airport laureates in the organization’s official announcement here - prix-versailles.com.