Overview
JFK Airport’s all-new Terminal One will prioritize accessibility, convenience, and the ultimate passenger experience from airside to landside.
Opportunity
For years, JFK Airport in Queens, New York, has been in dire need of an update even as the number of passengers flying in and out of the airport increases.
To make JFK one of the top-rated airports in the world and a “21st century global gateway,” the New Terminal One at JFK had to meet sustainability standards and serve as a catalyst for regional economic growth with modern hospitality-like amenities that would create thousands of local jobs. To top this off, the multi-year construction of the new terminal would have to take place as the airport at large continued to operate.
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Why This Matters
01
Create a Global Welcome
For New Terminal One and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the terminal needed to function as civic infrastructure: a memorable gateway that makes international arrival feel unmistakably connected to New York.
02
Design for Every Journey
A world-class terminal had to work for more than the fastest traveler. The vision prioritizes choice and intuitive movement across different abilities, ages, and travel needs.
03
Perform for Generations
With a long operating horizon, the terminal needed to absorb changing technologies, airline models, passenger expectations, and climate pressures without sacrificing experience or requiring constant reinvention.
As we recover from this pandemic, I want to ensure that everyone traveling to New York has a welcoming and streamlined experience, and that New Yorkers have the modernized transportation hubs they deserve.
Solution
Designed by Gensler and AECOM, the New Terminal One will span approximately 2.6 million square feet and introduce 23 new gates: a scale that has been likened to the Empire State Building tilted on its side.
A daylight-filled departures hall recalls the city’s train halls and winter gardens, while a landscaped frontage creates a park-like threshold from roadway to terminal. Thirty-foot ceilings and a central spine of skylights elevate the arrival experience, and 300,000 square feet of dining, retail, and lounges, create a modern hospitality setting. Sustainable design strategies will support a LEED Silver certification and will include energy-efficient daylighting through tinted glass, microgrid with solar panels powers up to half of everyday operations, and rainwater catchment on the roof that will decrease water consumption.
Related Content
2.6M
Square feet
23
Gates
300,000 square feet dedicated to retail, dining, and lounges
Retail & Hospitality Space
Impact
At $9.5 billion, the New Terminal One at JFK is one of the largest design-build projects undertaken in the United States.
When completed, it will be the largest and most sustainable airport terminal in the city and a best-in-class model for the future of airport design globally.
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What Changed Because of This
01
Arrival Elevated
International arrivals move through a daylight-filled upper-level immigration hall, replacing the conventional below-grade sequence with a more welcoming first experience of New York.
02
Access Personalized
Choreographed user journeys, sensory and quiet spaces, family facilities, and assisted lounges expand the definition of seamless travel beyond speed to dignity and choice.
03
Lower Energy
Electrochromic glazing, photovoltaic arrays, battery storage, and electric ground service equipment reduce operational energy demand and support the terminal’s long-term electrification strategy.
Recognition
Crain’s New York Business
Fast Company
Team
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