FW Specialties wins NTMA honor for Salt Lake City airport terrazzo

By AI, Created 8:41 PM UTC, June 01, 2026, /AGP/ – FW Specialties earned a 2026 National Terrazzo & Mosaic Association Honor Award for a 250,000-square-foot terrazzo installation at Salt Lake City International Airport. The project includes a restored 1961 world map and a 1,175-foot River Tunnel, underscoring terrazzo’s role in high-traffic public design.

Why it matters: - The award spotlights terrazzo’s role in one of the largest airport expansion projects in the U.S. - The Salt Lake City project combines durability, maintenance needs and large-scale public art in a single installation. - The restored world map gives the airport a landmark travelers already associate with the terminal.

What happened: - FW Specialties of Midvale, Utah, received a National Terrazzo & Mosaic Association 2026 Honor Award for work at Salt Lake City International Airport. - The award was presented May 13 at the NTMA’s 103rd annual convention. - The honored installation covers more than 250,000 square feet across Concourse B and multiple plazas. - The project was completed over five years in four phases. - The terrazzo work was part of the Salt Lake City International Airport redevelopment led by HOK with MHTN Architects.

The details: - The airport asked for a highly maintainable finish, and terrazzo met that requirement. - HOK began considering terrazzo in 2013 during schematic design for the new terminal. - Large-format tile was considered earlier but proved too expensive. - Terrazzo also fit the airport’s gridded layout. - FW Specialties installed six epoxy terrazzo mixes inspired by Utah’s landscape. - The mixes include glass, marble, mother-of-pearl and mirror-chip aggregates. - The design uses restrained, tonal surfaces to support large art installations and immersive architecture. - The 1,175-foot River Tunnel links the terminal to Concourse B. - The tunnel uses deep blue terrazzo with zinc divider strips to evoke regional waterways. - The tunnel includes a moving walkway beneath lighting and art. - The restored world map is 36 feet in diameter. - The original map was designed and first installed by J. Bartoli Co. of Dallas. - The original terminal was demolished in 2020, and the map was removed in 75 sections. - Each section measured about four feet by four feet and six inches thick and weighed roughly 400 pounds. - The map went into storage before being reinstalled in Concourse B Plaza. - FW Specialties reassembled, patched, color-matched and refinished the original sections. - Existing expansion joints were preserved, and mitered divider strips were added for structural integrity. - The airport holds LEED Gold certification. - AirHelp named Salt Lake City International Airport the best airport in the nation in its 2025 rankings. - FW Specialties was founded in 1981. - The company works on commercial, industrial and decorative terrazzo projects. - FW Specialties also operates Hermosa Terrazzo in Los Angeles, which focuses on luxury residential work.

Between the lines: - The award reinforces terrazzo’s appeal for airports because it pairs low-maintenance performance with design flexibility. - Restoring the world map signals that airports are treating familiar architectural features as part of the passenger experience, not just decoration. - The project also shows how major terminal redevelopments can preserve legacy elements while updating structure and circulation.

What’s next: - NTMA says a full list of this year’s 17 Honor Award recipients is available at ntma.com. - The association continues to offer resources and continuing education for architects, designers and contractors. - The restored map and new terrazzo installation will remain part of the airport’s rebuilt terminal experience.

The bottom line: - FW Specialties’ award-winning airport project turns terrazzo into both a hard-wearing building material and a centerpiece of civic identity.