Queens, New York, USA
“Our design concept focuses on two main components: a superior passenger experience and an exterior architectural expression that conveys a civic presence from the Grand Central Parkway,” states Carl Galioto, HOK’s president and New York office managing principal.
“The building is a metaphor for New York, a city of islands and bridges, and the terminal is connected to the city with views of the skyline from the passenger bridges. Our ambition was to help transform LaGuardia into an airport with a distinct civic identity worthy of this metropolis.”
Named the world’s best new airport terminal, LaGuardia Airport’s Terminal B designed by HOK and Nandinee Phookan Architects provides customers with a world-class experience that includes spacious interiors, floor-to-ceiling windows, a 3,000-car parking garage, new covered and convenient pickup facilities for both taxis and ride-sharing vehicles, and dual sky bridges above active taxiways.
LaGuardia Airport’s new Terminal B transformation has recently been awarded a 2023 American Architecture Award by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.
The transparent, fluid design celebrates movement and arrivals while conveying a strong civic presence in a city known for its remarkable architecture.
In the spirit of transportation centers like New York’s Grand Central Terminal, Terminal B ushers in an ambitious new era of mobility, travel, and public celebration.
Its verticality, scale, and sense of the new echo the monumentality of the city itself.
The headhouse, which opened in 2020, was once previously obscured by a parking garage, and now acts as the terminal’s front door.
Its long, sweeping facade reinforces the airport’s presence, letting people know they have arrived at the airport without having to say it.
Dramatic pedestrian bridges link to midfield concourses and gates.
The original basis of design provided for the design competition suggested a headhouse with traditional finger concourses extending into the airfield.
The island-and-bridges scheme dramatically increased the efficiency of airport operations by locating the new Terminal B closer to the Grand Central Parkway.
This recaptured 40 acres of land creates more efficient airside operations and movement.
The bridge solution enabled contractors to build the new terminal over the top of the existing structure proposal reduced the construction schedule by two years and minimized the impact to ongoing airport operations.
The simpler, faster construction phasing offered significant savings in construction costs.
The new terminal celebrates arrivals and departures with equal emphasis, challenging the industry practice of reserving the most monumental spaces for departures while relegating arrivals to low-ceilinged, basement-like zones.
Incoming and outgoing passengers share soaring, airy, grand-scaled sequences punctuated by lofty ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows that fill the space with daylight and enhance visibility and wayfinding.
The designers used daylight purposedly to highlight major circulation and transitions between secure and non-secure areas through a continuous clearstory.
The incorporation of commissioned and site-specific art installations, curated by the Public Art Fund in partnership with the client, communicates NYC’s vibrancy and cultural diversity. Included are works by Jeppe Hein, Sabine Hornig, Laura Owens, and Sarah Sze.
As the world’s first airport to earn LEED v4 Gold certification, Terminal B has helped pioneer sustainability measures for civil infrastructure projects.
With an Envision Platinum rating (the highest possible), it is the first project to earn recognition under v3 of the framework developed by the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure.
Additional design outcomes and sustainable elements include universal design features that improve accessibility beyond what is required by the code.
The bridges create more efficient aircraft movements that reduce aircraft emissions.
The design effectively addresses resiliency and responds to future sea level rises.
Strategic use of daylighting and clear lines of sight help travelers intuitively move through the terminal while reducing the need for artificial lighting.
The solar thermal system generates hot water for restrooms.
New dual and additional taxi lanes reduce aircraft fuel consumption and pollution by reducing time spent taxiing and idling.
Critical systems are on upper levels or protected in underground concrete.
Project: LaGuardia Airport Terminal B
Architects: HOK
Lead Architects and Engineers: Carl Galioto, Peter Ruggerio, Paul Auguste, and Matt Breidenthal
Associate Architects: Nandinee Phookan Architects PC.
General Contractor: Skanska USA Civil Inc.
Client: LaGuardia Gateway Partners LLC.
Photographers: Jeff Goldberg/Esto
