Making great 1st impression (12/01/2008)

First impressions mean a lot.

And every year, millions of people get their first impression of Indiana when they arrive at Indianapolis International Airport.

That's why, no matter where you live in the Hoosier state, you have a vested interest in the latest incarnation of the Indy airport.

The good news is, it's a vast improvement over its predecessor.

The old Indy airport, formerly known as Weir-Cook, had grown organically over several decades. As one might suspect, not all of that growth made sense.

People waiting for arrivals found themselves stranded and standing in virtual cul-de-sacs.

People arriving found the process tedious and uninviting.

The new Indy, which opened in mid-November, is a welcome and overdue improvement. For those greeting passengers, there's a huge mall-like area in which to wait and even dawdle. For those arriving, the experience is stress-free and welcoming.

Architectural critics have already weighed in to say the new airport isn't distinctively Indianapolis, and when compared to buildings such as Lucas Oil Stadium and Conseco Fieldhouse, the new airport does come across as pretty much generic.

If the improvement is measured against perfection, it probably comes up short.

But when measured against its predecessor, there's no question it's a winner.

And our guess is it will create a positive first impression for visitors for some time to come. - J.R.[[In-content Ad]]