The New Terminal One
Update
03/20/24
JFK's $9.5B Terminal One Tops Out
This week, steel erector, NYC Constructors LLC, topped out the structural ironwork for "The New Terminal One", going up at John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport in Jamaica, Queens.
Set to replace existing Terminals 1 & 2, this new, combined building, will become the largest international terminal at one of America's busiest ports of entry. As Terminals 1 & 2 are still open, construction is currently focused on the main hall and drop-off area, which will be located on the non-airside portion of the Airtrain tracks (pictured lower left, below).
Once the main terminal hall is built, work will shift to a 134-acre site that sits right beside the current Terminal 2. This plot was previously occupied by Terminal 3 until its demolition in 2013. Since the project may take until 2030 to fully complete, strategically building on this piece of land will prevent years of service disruptions that would heavily impact the airport's scheduled operations.
First announced in January of 2022 by New York Governor, Kathy Hochul, with an official ground-breaking ceremony held in September of that same year, the privately funded, $9.5 billion project, is being led by a group of lead sponsors, including The Carlyle Group, Ferrovial, JLC Infrastructure, and Ullico.
Designed by Gensler Architects, and constructed by AECOM Tishman, The New Terminal One is set to total 2.4 million square feet. It will house 23 boarding gates, and contain over 300,000 square feet of dining, retail space, and airline lounges.
According to the project website, "The terminal will feature expansive, naturally lit, public spaces, cutting edge technology, and an array of amenities, all designed to enhance the customer experience and compete with some of the highest-rated airport terminals in the world."
While building The New Terminal One is a mammoth undertaking in and of itself, the project comes amid several major capital improvements that are either planned or currently underway at JFK. The list includes a $425 million expansion of Terminal 8, a $1.5 billion expansion of Terminal 4, and a brand new Terminal 6, set to cost $3.9 billion.
