Owais Crawford
John F. Kennedy International Airport, commonly known as JFK, is an international airport in New York City. The airport was opened in 1948 as New York International Airport but was commonly known as Idlewild Airport. It was renamed in 1963 to honour John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, following his assassination. The airport has undergone numerous expansions and renovations over the years, with various companies involved in the design and construction of its terminals. While I couldn't find the exact company that initially built the airport, notable companies involved in its redevelopment include Gensler Studio, TWA, Turner Construction Company, TAMS Consultants, VRH/Torcon, Armand Corporation, DMJM Aviation, and many others.
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What You'll Learn
Construction began in 1943
Construction of John F. Kennedy International Airport, known by many around the world simply as "JFK", began in 1943. The airport, which opened in 1948, was originally known as New York International Airport, but it was commonly referred to as Idlewild Airport, after the Idlewild Beach Golf Course that it displaced.
The airport was built on a large area of marshland on Jamaica Bay, which included the Idlewild Golf Course, a summer hotel, and a landing strip called the Jamaica Sea-Airport. About $60 million in government funding was initially spent on the project, with 1,000 acres of the Idlewild Golf Course site earmarked for use.
The airport's construction was delayed by almost three years due to financing issues, union disputes, arguments over rents charged to airlines, and problems with access roads. During this initial phase, six runways were built, along with a cargo building, two hangars, and 70 miles of storm sewers. A temporary passenger terminal was constructed, as more time was needed to design the central passenger terminal.
JFK Airport is unique due to the unprecedented involvement of airlines in the design and construction of its terminals. Each airline was given the opportunity to commission its own terminal or self-contained departure station. This resulted in "Terminal City", which was completed in the 1960s and featured architectural masterpieces that expressed the country's individualism and can-do attitude.
Over the years, JFK Airport has undergone numerous expansions and improvements, including the addition of runways, new buildings, and taxiways. In the late 1990s, a major rebuild commenced, with ongoing expansions and modernisations taking place into the 2020s. Recent developments include the construction of new terminals, such as Terminal 8 and the upcoming Terminal 1 and Terminal 6, as well as enhancements to existing terminals and roadway networks.
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$19 billion transformation
John F. Kennedy International Airport, commonly known as JFK, is a major international airport serving New York City and its metropolitan area. It is located on the southwestern shore of Long Island, in Queens, New York City, bordering Jamaica Bay. It is the busiest of the seven airports in the New York airport system, the sixth-busiest airport in the United States, and the busiest international commercial airport in North America.
The airport was originally opened in 1948 as New York International Airport, commonly known as Idlewild Airport, after the Idlewild Beach Golf Course that it displaced. The airport was built to relieve LaGuardia Field, which had become overcrowded after its opening in 1939. Construction began in 1943, and about $60 million in government funding was initially spent on the project.
JFK Airport has been undergoing a major rebuild since the late 1990s, which is expected to continue into the 2020s. This is due to the airport's struggle to keep up with the ever-growing traffic flows and changing requirements, such as larger aircraft, increased security, and commercial requirements.
In October 2018, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo released details of a $13 billion plan to rebuild passenger facilities and approaches to JFK Airport. The plan included the construction of two brand-new international terminals, with one terminal costing $7 billion and featuring 2.8 million square feet of space and 23 gates. This terminal would replace Terminals 1, 2, and the vacant space of Terminal 3, and would be financed and built through a partnership between several major airlines and airport groups.
In December 2021, New York Governor Kathy Hochul provided an update on the plans to build a new Terminal 1, with a projected cost of $9.5 billion. This ongoing transformation of JFK Airport, with investments totaling $19 billion, aims to address the challenges posed by increasing traffic and evolving aviation industry demands. The project involves the construction of new terminals, the expansion of existing facilities, and modifications to the surrounding infrastructure to accommodate these changes.
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Airlines designed their own terminals
John F. Kennedy International Airport, commonly known as JFK, was the world's first large-scale international airport. The airport is unique due to the unprecedented involvement of airlines in the design and construction of its terminals. Every airline, both US and foreign, was given the opportunity to commission its own terminal or self-contained departure station.
When "Terminal City" was completed in the 1960s, it was considered state-of-the-art and a true expression of the country's individualism and can-do attitude. Some of its terminals were hailed as architectural masterpieces. Terminal 1, for example, was designed by William Nicholas Bodouva + Associates and is one of the two terminals at JFK Airport with the capability of handling the Airbus A380 aircraft. Terminal 7, which was designed by GMW Architects and built for British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) and Air Canada in 1970, was operated by British Airways until 2022, making it the only airport terminal operated on US soil by a foreign carrier at the time.
In 1999, American Airlines began an eight-year program to build the largest passenger terminal at JFK, designed by DMJM Aviation to replace both Terminal 8 and Terminal 9. The new Terminal 8, with a $1 billion project budget, was planned to accommodate more than 14 million passengers annually, with 37 jet gates and 18 commuter gates, a streamlined baggage handling system, and a customs and immigration facility. The terminal was built in four phases and officially opened in August 2007.
Terminal 5, which opened in 2008, is considered JetBlue's terminal, although it serves other airlines as well. Its design has won multiple awards, and it offers passengers many facilities and services.
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TWA Terminal by Gensler Studio
The TWA Flight Center, originally known as the Eero Saarinen design at Idlewild Airport Terminal 5, was later renamed the John F. Kennedy International Airport. The TWA terminal, designed by Gensler Studio, is an airport terminal and hotel located at JFK Airport in New York. The TWA Flight Center was designed for Trans World Airlines by Eero Saarinen and Associates starting in 1956. It was erected between 1959 and 1962 and operated as an air terminal until 2001. The terminal's entry hall has a unique design, with two arms that wrap around the TWA Flight Center's head house in a crescent shape. The head house is a two-story structure with a distinctive thin-shell concrete roof. The roof is composed of four concrete shells that converge at the centre, where each shell supports the others. The roof's thin concrete shell was designed to span a wide space using as little material as possible. The interior design of the head house is just as unique as the exterior, with multiple levels and an intermediate level that can be reached via a central staircase or four peripheral staircases. The walls and floors were lined with ceramic tiles, and the building was equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including closed-circuit television and a public address system. The TWA Flight Center was one of the first to use enclosed passenger jetways, which extended from "gate structures" at the end of each tube.
Terminal 5, also known as T5, is a 625,000-square-foot facility designed by Gensler Studio. It contains 26 gates that can accommodate 250 flights and 20 million passengers per year. The form of the TWA Flight Center's head house is designed to relate to its small wedge-shaped site, with walkways and gates placed at acute angles. The TWA Flight Center stood disused for a few years, during which it was used for brief events such as filming and art exhibitions. In 2005, the PANYNJ began construction of the T5 facility behind and partially encircling Saarinen's head house. Peripheral portions of the head house were demolished to make space for a larger 26-gate facility designed by Gensler. The TWA Flight Center's head house is a landmark in airport architecture, showcasing thin-shell construction with a reinforced concrete shell roof supported at the corners. The building incorporates elements of Futurist, Neo-futurist, Googie, and Fantastic architectural styles.
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Terminal 8 Expansion Project
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) is undergoing a historic $19 billion transformation into a world-class airport. The airport is the busiest in the nation for international travel, handling over 62 million passengers a year. The redevelopment program includes two giant new terminals, the expansion and modernisation of existing terminals, improved roadways, local retail and dining, and New York artwork.
Terminal 8 (T8) is one of the terminals that has been expanded and modernised. In 1999, American Airlines began an eight-year, $1 billion program to build the largest passenger terminal at JFK, designed by DMJM Aviation. Terminal 8 was designed to accommodate more than 14 million passengers annually, with 37 jet gates and 18 commuter gates, a customs and immigration hall, and a streamlined baggage handling system. The terminal opened in 2001 and replaced the airport's old International Arrivals Building (IAB).
The T8 Expansion Project has included a $125 million commercial redevelopment, which has reimagined the customer experience, providing opportunities for local, minority, and women-owned businesses. T8 Innovation Partners, a joint venture led by Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) Airports, in partnership with American Airlines and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, has overseen major commercial upgrades throughout the terminal, including 60+ new shop and restaurant offerings.
The redevelopment of JFK Airport has created thousands of jobs, with extensive opportunities for local businesses and job seekers. The project has also set a New York State record for contract awards to MWBE firms on a single project.
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Frequently asked questions
Kennedy Airport, originally Idlewild Airport, was built by several companies, including Turner Construction Company, TWA Flight Center, GMW Architects, DMJM Aviation, and Gensler Studio.
Construction of Kennedy Airport began in 1943 and it opened in 1948. However, it has undergone multiple expansions and renovations since, with a major rebuild commencing in the late 1990s that is still ongoing.
Kennedy Airport was built to relieve LaGuardia Field, which had become overcrowded. As the aviation industry boomed in the 1920s, New York City needed a large and modern airport to retain its status as a leading economic and financial centre.
