Architecture, Queens, Transportation
It's Official! JetBlue Will Turn the Iconic TWA Flight Terminal at JFK Into a Hotel
Posted On Fri, September 18, 2015 By Diane Pham In Architecture, Queens, Transportation
Image courtesy of Beyer Blinder Belle
No longer will the fate of Eero Saarinen's architectural masterpiece sit in limbo, Crain's reports that the iconic structure will indeed be made into a hotel, developed through a partnership between MCR Development and JetBlue. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey chose the pair amongst a "field of several competitors" bidding for the job, and the decision will be formally announced at the agency's board meeting next week. As we previously reported, the new destination will be known as the TWA Flight Center Hotel.
Images courtesy of Beyer Blinder Belle
MCR was behind the successful adaptive conversion of The High Line Hotel in Chelsea, while Jet Blue has dabbled in hotels before, erecting a boutique edition for its employees in Orlando, Florida. This new venture will be the airline's first to open to the public (thankfully) to enjoy. The new project will include a renovation of the landmarked interior, which will outfit the space as a lobby for the 505-room hotel—a new construction set behind the Saarinen gem. However, no major changes will be made to the interior. As MCR CEO Tyler Morse told the press when the first renderings were released in July, "The TWA Flight Center Hotel will celebrate and preserve Eero Saarinen's masterpiece, returning the landmark to its original glory and reopening it to the public… international visitors and New Yorkers alike will be able to experience the magic of the Jet Age in this extraordinary mid-century icon."
A rendering of the updated terminal
The addition will be a boon to the airport which currently has no on-site hotels. "First-class hotels are a mark of a 21st-century airport and JFK and LaGuardia are among the very few major airports without this amenity," said Joe Sitt, the chairman of the airport advocacy group Global Gateway Alliance in a statement. "We applaud the Port Authority for moving ahead with plans to develop the iconic TWA Flight Center, because it's past time for a smart use for the building and for an on-airport hotel available to millions of JFK passengers."
Additional details, including what the pair will pay the Port Authority, have not been released. Until then, you can read more on the history of the terminal here and find out more about the new design here.
[Via Crain's]
An Architect's Gift from the Jet Age: The TWA Flight Center at JFK International Airport
Eero Saarinen's Iconic JFK Terminal to Be Reborn as the 'TWA Flight Center Hotel'
The New LaGuardia Airport: Not Functional, Not Inspiring, Not an Icon
Tags : Eero Saarinen, jetblue, JFK Airport, MCR development, Mid-century Modern, Neo-Futurist, TWA Terminal