Port Canaveral’s Cruise Terminal 3
- Customer Arconas & Carnival Cruise Line
- Architect Bermello
- Year 2019 / 2020
- Location Port Canaveral, Florida, United States
The cruisers loved the space, the openness, and the warmth the wood brought in. Port Canaveral was happy with the outcome of both the exterior and interior of the new terminal.
Port Canaveral’s Cruise Terminal 3, known as The Launch Pad, was designed as the beginning of the journey itself. Serving Carnival Cruise Line, the terminal welcomes thousands of passengers daily, each arriving with anticipation and energy as they prepare to set sail.
The terminal reflects the Port’s historic connection to the U.S. space program. Its architecture and interiors draw inspiration from the nearby Kennedy Space Center, blending futuristic forms with a sense of optimism and motion. Within this high-capacity, fast-paced environment, interior elements needed to support efficiency while contributing to a memorable, human-centered experience.
The Challenge
Designing seating for a major cruise terminal presents a unique set of challenges. The space must accommodate large passenger volumes, constant movement, and extended waiting times, often simultaneously. Seating needed to be robust and low-maintenance, yet visually light enough to avoid overwhelming the expansive terminal hall.
Beyond functionality, the challenge was driven by the emotion of the place. The terminal’s design language called for furniture that could echo its space-inspired identity without feeling cold or overly technical. The waiting areas needed to calm passengers, organize flow, and create moments of comfort, while remaining flexible enough to wrap around architectural elements such as columns and open sightlines.
The Solution
The Nova C benches supported the solution that balanced sculptural expression with practical performance. The modular design allowed seating to wrap organically around columns, transforming structural necessities into intentional design features. This approach softened the scale of the interior and introduced a gentle rhythm throughout both the waiting and VIP areas.
Impact & Results
The completed installation contributes to a terminal environment that feels calm, cohesive, and forward-looking, even at peak capacity. Seating configurations help guide passenger flow intuitively, offering clear zones for rest without disrupting circulation or sightlines.
The result is a terminal that passengers are genuinely happy to begin their journey from: modern yet welcoming, efficient yet expressive, and aligned with Port Canaveral’s role as a gateway to exploration.
Products in this project
Green transport hubs
We design for travelers and commuters, families and individuals, making comfortable environments a part of every journey. Green’s placemaking approach uplifts waiting areas, brings new life to shops and cafes, and creates areas that offer a sense of calm.
Discover more transport hub design
Let us design your next transport hub project
Our in-house designers will help you with a free 3D floor-plan rendering.
