Yesterday, construction topped-out on the TWA Hotel, which flanks the famous TWA Flight Center designed by Eero Saarinen at JFK Airport. This news comes almost exactly a year after the groundbreaking ceremony, held with Governor Andrew Cuomo on December 15th, 2016. The hotel creates 50,000 square feet of meeting and event space, as well as eight restaurants and six bars. 10,000 square feet of observation space will be made available to the public.
TWA Topping Out–TWA Hotel flag and American flag raised by crane above the north hotel structure (Max Touhey)
TWA topping Out–TWA Hotel construction workers and partners at the TWA Hotel Topping Out ceremony, image by Max Touhey
The former air terminal will be repurposed into a crowning jewel of the new 505-key hotel. The building will function as a 200,000 square foot hotel lobby, which might well be the largest of its kind in the world. Exhibition space will also be made, dedicated to the influence of the mid-century Jet age. The historic landmark will be accessible to airport guests by the AirTrain.
TWA Topping Out–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 by Max Touhey
“Since the TWA Hotel groundbreaking with Governor Cuomo less than one year ago, our team has been hard at work breathing new life into Eero Saarinen’s TWA Flight Center terminal and developing one of the most iconic hotels in the world,” said Tyler Morse, CEO of MCR and Morse Development. “This topping out brings us one step closer to reviving this treasured landmark and reopening it to the public for generations to come.”
TWA Hotel rendering, by MCR Development
The hotel is expected to be open for guests by early 2019. To see a preview of the design to come, one can visit the TWA lounge space on the 86th floor of One World Trade Center, available by appointment.
Beyer Blinder Belle is responsible for the restoration, and Lubrano Ciavarra is responsible for designing the hotel.
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Please pardon me for using your space: Modern design starting to follow gradually on its work.
What a pity that for this important commemorative occasion, the concrete skip wasn’t given a bit more spit and polish, i.e., a complete paint job. It might be authentic but all that corrosion on display is really not up to snuff. This is a prestige project after all and Turner can do better.
Don’t they have clean and shiny concrete skips for photo ops?
I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO REACH CHRISTINE NEGRONI WHO WROTE THE ARTICLE IN OUR LOCAL NEWSPAPER ABOUT THE HOTEL AND MUSEUM UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT JFK I HAVE SOMETHING FROM WAY BACK THAT YOU MIGHT WANT IN YOUR MUSEUM WITH THE TWA LOGO.PLEASE CONTACT ME SO WE CAN DISCUSS THE POSSIBILITY……SHIRLEY PAYET 843 947 0235 OR 845 559 4901 THANK YOU
So happy to see that this landmark is coming back to life! The time spent in this wonderful terminal will never be forgotten. I started my airline career With TWA and spent almost 10 years flying out of this terminal. Thank you everyone involved for this wonderful restoration.