USA. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, in partnership with American Airlines, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) Airports and Holt Construction have begun an ambitious commercial redevelopment at New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Terminal 8.
As reported, the project will feature a new Great Hall and will include more than 60 new shopping and restaurant offerings in the terminal. The partners pledged an emphasis on locally owned and diverse businesses, with the concessions programme set to showcase New York’s culinary scene and a strong sense of place.
A seasonal artist showcase within the terminal, ‘A Traveling Dream’, also debuted as a celebration of the airport’s host community, Jamaica, and greater Queens through local art.
The US$125 million commercial redevelopment programme is led by JFK T8 Innovation Partners, a joint venture led by URW and equity partner, Phoenix Infrastructure Group, a minority-owned business enterprise (MBE)-certified investment firm.
It aims to transform the customer experience at the terminal with a redesign and expansion of concessions, including new dining, retail, duty free shopping, performance space and digitally-enabled experiences for customers of American and its partner airlines.
The commercial redevelopment follows the US$400 million expansion of Terminal 8.
Completed in November 2022, the expansion and modernisation of Terminal 8 is part of the Port Authority’s US$19 billion redevelopment of JFK, which targets the creation of world-class dining and retail alongside inspiring public art in every new or modernised terminal.
URW collaborated with a Queens-based artist studio, Vaughn Bentley Creative, to transform utilitarian construction barricades into a canvas to promote the local arts community and showcase art that will create a sense of place unique to the airport’s home borough.
Six groups of artists were curated from more than 130 submissions reviewed by a committee with members representing the Port Authority, American Airlines and URW.
Four Queens-based artists were selected and received a stipend to produce their work for the inaugural exhibit. Local artists have additional opportunities to show their art in future showcases throughout the terminal. The finished terminal also includes plans for a year-round permanent artist showcase.
The concept around A Traveling Dream features dandelions signifying resilience, expressions of joy, hope for the future and the spirit of nostalgia. The exhibit will be open to ticketed passengers through the summer.
The barricade was installed by Visual Citi, a locally owned minority-woman owned business enterprise (MBE) and PANYNJ disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) company offering full-service signage, printing and fabrication services. Established in 2004 by Samina Devjiyani and Abbas Devjiyani in their Queens apartment, Visual Citi has expanded and grown, now occupying a 100,000sq ft facility in Lindenhurst, N.Y., and employs more than 120 individuals.
“A reimagined commercial programme paired with inspiring public art will elevate the passenger experience at Terminal 8, as part of our US$19 billion transformation of JFK Airport,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton. “Across JFK, we are focused on creating a sense of place unique to New York with locally-owned concessions operating alongside national brands and public art that reflects the culture and traditions of the communities around the airport.”
“This significant investment in creating world-class and locally-inspired dining and retail at Terminal 8 is essential to our successful effort to raise the bar for passenger service at JFK,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole. “The commercial redevelopment and commitment to public art at Terminal 8 is a critical step toward achieving the Port Authority’s vision for a new JFK Airport that will once again be ranked as one of the best airports in the world.”
“The start of the construction phase marks an important milestone in the transformation of the Terminal 8 experience for American Airlines and its partners’ customers,” said URW Airports CEO Dany Nasr.
“We’re partnering across Queens to deliver every aspect of this exciting project, and we are delighted to showcase amazing local born-and-bred Queens talent as construction kicks off. This is only the start of a platform that celebrates this community’s vibrant diversity and culture and connects with and supports our many neighbourhoods.”
“Beginning the construction of our expanded concessions is an exciting step to continue enhancing the customer experience at Terminal 8,” said American Airlines Vice President of Airport Affairs and Facilities Amanda Zhang.
“The unique showcase is an excellent way to celebrate the critical partnership and contributions of our local and minority-owned business enterprise partners. On behalf of American, thank you to the many artists who curated this exhibit for our customers to enjoy during the busy summer travel season.”
“It is our pleasure to work with the URW team on this project and foster connections with the MWBE/LBE/SDVOB community,” said Chris Asaro, President of Holt Construction.
“Working with likeminded partners who strive to build up the communities in which they operate makes all the difference in being successful in ensuring outreach goals are achieved. Since the onset of our programme for the Terminal 8 commercial redevelopment programme we have held 16 virtual outreach sessions, spoken to over 1,500 individuals, prequalified 29 new MWBE/LBE/SDVOB firms and are in the process of working with another 139 firms who have showed interest.”
“Being a part of the first inaugural exhibit at JFK T8 is a testament to our manifestations as artists and small business owners,” said Shenna Vaughn, Curator of Vaughn Bentley Creative.
“As local artists and small business owners, this has been an exciting and pivotal experience for not only ourselves, but the local artists we have called along to exhibit within the showcase as well. With the support of URW, we have provided our thriving talents, and our eclectic vision toward such a groundbreaking project which communicates, inspires, and transcends the passions of our mind, and heart. We aspire to be the catalyst of many more exhibitions to come.”
Alongside Sheena Vaughn and William Bentley, local artists include Eduardo Anievas Cortines, Timothy Hutto and Luis Caraos.
“The US$19 billion overhaul of Kennedy Airport has been a game changer for the Queens economy, including the hundreds of local businesses that have combined to secure nearly US$1 billion in contracting opportunities to operate at the facility. That success will be on display at Terminal 8 as well, as we get started on this massive commercial redevelopment of the space,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr.
“From dining to retail to even locally sourced art to be displayed at Terminal 8, I look forward to seeing even more Queens-based entrepreneurs and artists becoming critical pieces of the airport’s overall redevelopment.” ✈
