Gensler
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Overview

JFK Airport’s all-new Terminal One will prioritize accessibility, convenience, and the ultimate passenger experience from airside to landside.

Location
Client

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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

Kathy HochulGovernor of New York State

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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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

01

Crain’s New York Business

Gensler was ranked New York’s largest architecture and design firm in 2026, with Co-Managing Director Amanda Carroll crediting the office’s extraordinary talent and the city’s “unmatched ability to reinvent itself and drive global impact.”

02

Fast Company

Gensler Aviation Leader Ty Osbaugh discussed how airport design can ease long security lines, drawing on the firm’s work on JFK’s $9.5 billion Terminal One redevelopment to create efficient, calming spaces that accommodate passenger overflow.

FAQ

01

What is the New Terminal One at JFK International Airport?

The New Terminal One is a $9.5 billion international terminal anchoring the south side of JFK and a major component of the Port Authority’s broader airport transformation. At full build-out, it will span 2.6 million square feet with 23 gates.

02

Who designed the New Terminal One?

The terminal was designed by Gensler and AECOM, with Gensler serving as lead architect, design architect, and architect of record as part of a large multidisciplinary design-build team.

03

How is sustainability incorporated into the Terminal?

Resilience and long-term performance shaped major architectural decisions, including raising the terminal above its design flood elevation, capturing rainwater, managing solar gain, electrifying ground operations, and integrating on-site energy generation. The completed terminal is also planned to include approximately 13,000 solar panels.

04

Who is developing the New Terminal One at JFK?

The New Terminal One is being developed by a private consortium in partnership with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The consortium is responsible for financing, developing, and operating the terminal.