KANSAS CITY, Mo. — From local restaurants to flooring to inclusiveness, many things will stand out to travelers at Kansas City International Airport’s new terminal.

The contract between Kansas City, Missouri, and the company building the terminal stipulates that construction of the new terminal must be completed by March 3, 2023. The terminal could open earlier or later than that date depending on the consultation with airlines and other stakeholders.

Kansas City, Missouri voters approved the new terminal in 2017. One of the first things they’ll notice about the new terminal is a homage to the old terminal.

“Throughout the lobby, pretty much everywhere the audience walks, you’ll see terrazzo throughout,” said Greg Grazzini, president of Grazzini Brothers and Company.

The floor of current KCI terminals is also covered with terrazzo, a kind of material made of chipped marble, quartz or seashells help each other and sealed with epoxy. Grazzini Brothers was able to salvage approximately 40 medallions or mosaics that were embedded in the terrazzo of KCI’s original Terminal A, which crews demolished to build the new single terminal.

“It looks really good,” Grazzini said. “We’ve probably finished half of them already.”

The food travelers eat will also stand out. As a tribute to Kansas City, many of the City Market restaurants will move into the new terminal. Taste of Brazil will bring his pao queijo (cheese bread) and pulled beef to the terminal. Bloom Bakery Company will serve breakfast and dinner with sweet treats.

“People are excited to be traveling again and I think they’re very happy to have a fresh, new twist on the airport,” said Sarah Darby of the bakery.

Looking to the future, the new terminal hopes to set an example as the most inclusive airport in the world. The city and the architects worked with Greater Kansas City Children’s Charity to build inclusiveness into all aspects of the new terminal.

The new terminal will include changing rooms for adults and children, a play area accessible to children in wheelchairs and walkers, a flight simulator for children to get used to the noise and experience of flying before their first flight and a sensory room, where children and adults who are over-stimulated can relax.

The flight simulator is called Maddox Truit. The sensory room is named Molly Bolton. Both children worked with Variety KC to push for more inclusivity around Kansas City and died in 2021.

“All children need to be part of the conversation,” explained Deborah Wieldrecht, director of inclusion for Variety Children’s Charity of Greater Kansas City. “With the sensory room and the flight sensory room, Molly and Maddox will be remembered forever and their legacy is to allow other children to always be included.”