This morning, JetBlue welcomed the first international arrivals at its new, Gensler-designed International Concourse extension to Terminal 5 (T5) at John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport.
The International Concourse will offer customers a modern environment with an emphasis on well-being that simplifies the travel experience. The addition is a seamless extension of Gensler’s award-winning design for T5 (which opened in 2008), and was built in collaboration with Arup, Turner Construction, and The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
The 175,000-sf extension includes the conversion of three existing gates to international swing gates, and the addition of three new international swing gates. Further, the International Concourse will include a new security re-check, an immigration hall designed to process 1,400 passengers per hour with the addition of 40 automated passport control kiosks and two new baggage claims.
“Our new International Arrivals Concourse perfectly mirrors T5’s bright and friendly look and feel. Our home terminal, T5, is JetBlue’s unique way to properly welcome people to New York. Thanks to our partners at Gensler, T5i is designed with sustainable considerations including technologies that will help reduce the building’s environmental impact,” said Dave Barger, CEO, JetBlue.
Gensler designed the terminal with a particular focus on passenger well-being. Passengers will have access to views of the city and natural light in unexpected places, including the Primary Hall and corridor through which they must pass upon arriving in the United States. Alighting from this corridor into the Immigration Hall for customs processing, customers will be surprised by 360-degree views to the outside.
A forthcoming outdoor rooftop park, slated to open in spring 2015, will offer all passengers at T5 the ability to stroll outside while enjoying spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline as well as the historic adjacent TWA Terminal.
“We designed the international concourse to welcome people to the US and specifically to New York, greeting them with natural daylight and a view outside. We think travelers awaiting their departing flights will particularly enjoy the ability to take a walk through a rooftop park with great views of the city,” said Gensler Architect and Senior Associate Ty Osbaugh.
Guided by JetBlue’s mission to bring humanity back to air travel, Gensler’s design includes many customer-friendly design elements for which T5 is known:
-
Sustainable design focused on well-being and improved indoor air quality features water bottle refilling stations throughout the terminal, low-VOC materials, and abundant natural daylight;
-
The modern, timeless, and clean design features splashes of bold color in keeping with the JetBlue brand;
-
Both lounge-like and traditional seating at gates, with access to ample electrical outlets;
-
Features that travelers love in T5 will continue in the new addition: there is free Wi-Fi throughout, customer service zones are located in every concourse and there will be food ordering capability at the gates.
Related Stories
| Nov 19, 2014
The evolution of airport design and construction [infographic]
Safety, consumer demand, and the new economics of flight are three of the major factors shaping how airlines and airport officials are approaching the need for upgrades and renovations, writes Skanska USA's MacAdam Glinn.
| Nov 18, 2014
Grimshaw releases newest designs for world’s largest airport
The airport is expected to serve 90 million passengers a year on the opening of the first phase, and more than 150 million annually after project completion in 2018.
Sponsored | | Nov 12, 2014
Eye-popping façade highlights renovation, addition at Chaffin Junior High School
The new distinctive main entrance accentuates the public face of the school with an aluminum tube “baguette” system.
| Oct 26, 2014
New York initiates design competition for upgrading LaGuardia, Kennedy airports
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that the state would open design competitions to fix and upgrade New York City’s aging airports. But financing construction is still unsettled.
| Oct 16, 2014
Perkins+Will white paper examines alternatives to flame retardant building materials
The white paper includes a list of 193 flame retardants, including 29 discovered in building and household products, 50 found in the indoor environment, and 33 in human blood, milk, and tissues.
| Oct 12, 2014
AIA 2030 commitment: Five years on, are we any closer to net-zero?
This year marks the fifth anniversary of the American Institute of Architects’ effort to have architecture firms voluntarily pledge net-zero energy design for all their buildings by 2030.
| Sep 24, 2014
Architecture billings see continued strength, led by institutional sector
On the heels of recording its strongest pace of growth since 2007, there continues to be an increasing level of demand for design services signaled in the latest Architecture Billings Index.
| Sep 22, 2014
4 keys to effective post-occupancy evaluations
Perkins+Will's Janice Barnes covers the four steps that designers should take to create POEs that provide design direction and measure design effectiveness.
| Sep 22, 2014
Sound selections: 12 great choices for ceilings and acoustical walls
From metal mesh panels to concealed-suspension ceilings, here's our roundup of the latest acoustical ceiling and wall products.
| Sep 15, 2014
Ranked: Top international AEC firms [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Parsons Brinckerhoff, Gensler, and Jacobs top BD+C's rankings of U.S.-based design and construction firms with the most revenue from international projects, as reported in the 2014 Giants 300 Report.