A Smart Start: Why the Terminal/Landside Track Is Built for Young Professionals
I am excited to welcome you to the 2026 Airport Planning, Design, & Construction Symposium, to be held in Indianapolis, IN, from March 4-6, 2026. As a young professional helping organize this year's Terminal/Landside Track, I've gained a deeper appreciation for how much collaboration goes into shaping the passenger experience.
This year's Terminal/Landside Track will explore topics such as smart systems for parking, queues, and wayfinding, managing growth at small airports with limited resources, and reimagining restrooms and adult changing facilities for inclusive design. We'll also hear about balancing preservation and modernization and learn how airports are leading the way in sustainable expansion. Together, these discussions will show how thoughtful planning and innovation can improve both passenger satisfaction and operational efficiency.
Whether you're a consultant, airport representative, or emerging professional, this track offers valuable takeaways. Attendees will gain practical insights, connect with peers tackling similar challenges, and leave with new ideas for improving the passenger journey in the work that we do.
As a young professional, organizing this track has been an incredible learning experience—strengthening my leadership skills while giving me the chance to collaborate with industry experts. I'm excited to see these conversations come to life and hope to see many of you there as we explore how airports can continue guiding the journey with every traveler in mind.
If you're a young professional in aviation, you will not want to miss the 2026 Symposium. The insight you gain and the relationships you’ll build can truly shape your career. The industry is interconnected, and you will likely keep crossing paths with the same dedicated people throughout your career, so invest in those connections early and keep learning from one another.
Victor Murillo, MS, P.E.
Young Professional Terminal/Landside Track Host
Civil Engineer
Hanson Professional Services Inc.
