San Francisco International Airport and its AirTrain pictured, October 29, 2025. REUTERS/Carlos Barria
(New York, NY) – The city of San Francisco can get a bad rap these days. Whether its concerns over rising (and unpoliced) crime, rampant public drug use, or just a general sense of urban decay, the “City by the Bay” has fallen from grace — at least according to outsiders. Yet a prestigious international architecture and design award was just handed to San Francisco International Airport’s Harvey Milk Terminal 1 — which has been designated the world’s most beautiful airport terminal, by Prix Versailles.
The terminal, which opened in June 2024, features a permanent exhibition honoring gay rights leader Harvey Milk, including photographs and historical materials highlighting his political career and impact on San Francisco. One Reddit user called it “the best airport I’ve ever been to.” Another commented: “Harvey Milk Terminal meets and exceeds my hopes for what an airport terminal should be in the 2020s.”
The SFO website printed a press release responding to the award, in which Airport Director Mike Nakornkhet said: “We are truly honored to be named the top airport in the world by Prix Versailles. 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.”
Prix Versailles recognizes locations other than airports, issuing award annually for school campuses, passenger stations, sports venues, museums, emporiums, hotels, and restaurants. Their jury chairperson explained: “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.”
Other airports were recognized as well, including Terminal 2 at Yantai Penglai International Airport (China), the Arrivals terminal at Roland Garros Airport (Réunion Island, France), and Terminal 1 at Kansai International Airport (Osaka, Japan). There were special recognitions issued for Terminal 1 at Marseille Provence Airport in Marignane, France — for interior design. The main terminal at Portland International Airport in Oregon was also praised.
