The 35-gate, $1 billion terminal’s architectural form is an homage to the gentle curves of the Mississippi River and immerses visitors in the culture, geography, and history of New Orleans. Natural light streams into the terminal via skylights that are meant to evoke the city’s tree-shaded urban markets. The terminal’s three-story central atrium includes a jazz garden that will feature live music and a large glass-sealed image of oak trees in the morning fog taken by a local photographer is adjacent to the main elevator.