Bringing TWA Terminal back to life as a hotel

TWA Terminal

Sitting empty for more than a decade now, the TWA terminal at Idlewild Airport also known as John F. Kennedy International Airport was one of the masterpieces of the 60’s architecture.
There was a big resistance – from Architects to historians – to keep the building by its current look, making sure that this masterpiece don’t get “vandalized” by any architect or a designer for that matter. And sure a great job they did keeping it safe for 15 years.

MCR CEO Tyler Morse and Turner Construction’s Rick Faustini and Gary McAssey standing next to the north hotel tower crane with ceremonial flags. Image © Max Touhey

Completed in 1962, designed by the Finnish-born architect Eero Saarinen. The building will finally come to life upon the approval of Jet Blue design proposal to make it into a hotel.The design proposal suggested 505 rooms with 40,000 feet of meeting space and 8 restaurants, with a beautiful view over the runway made by a 10,000 feet deck.

photography by © Luke Clerkin

“All the curves, all the spaces and elements right down to the shape of the signs, display boards, railings and check-in desks were to be of a matching nature. We wanted passengers passing through the building to experience a fully-designed environment, in which each part arises from another and everything belongs to the same formal world,” said Eero Saarinen.

Seeing this building you won’t believe this remarkable work of art was created in the 60’s, its structural systems, architectural design both exterior and interior is a sophisticated, emotional and intellectual visual and a wonderful meaningful abstraction.

TWA Hotel flag and American Flag raised to the top of the north hotel structure. Image © Max Touhey