TWA Flight Center
Encyclopedia
The TWA Flight Center or Trans World Flight Center, opened in 1962 as a standalone terminal
at New York
's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
.for Trans World Airlines
. It was designed by Eero Saarinen
.
Portions of the original complex have been demolished, and the Saarinen terminal (or head house
) has been renovated, partially encircled by and serving as a ceremonial entrance to a new adjacent terminal completed in 2008. Together, the old and new buildings comprise JetBlue Airways
' JFK operations and are known collectively as Terminal 5 or simply T5.
The City of New York designated both the interiors and the exteriors of the Saarinen terminal a historic landmark in 1994 and in 2005 the National Park Service
listed the Trans World Flight Center on the National Register of Historic Places
.
While noted architect Robert A.M. Stern called the evocative Saarinen-designed TWA Flight Center "Grand Central
of the jet age", the pragmatic new encircling terminal has been called "hyper-efficient" and a "monument to human throughput".
for Trans World Airlines
at New York
's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
(which was known as Idlewild Airport at the time).
Eero Saarinen
and his Detroit-based firm were commissioned in 1956 to design the TWA Flight Center and given the directive by the client to capture the spirit of flight. By doing so the building took form of a huge bird with wings spread in flight. Known as an indefatigable architect, Saarinen indicated to his client he needed more time — taking another year to resolve the design. The completed terminal was dedicated May 28, 1962 — a year after the architect's death — with Saarinen also winning the AIA Gold Medal
posthumously in 1962.
In 1969, the terminal received a new departure-arrival concourse and lounge — known as Flight Wing One, designed by Roche-Dinkeloo
to accommodate (then new) wide-body aircraft
such as the Boeing 747
.
Following TWA's continued financial deterioration during the 1990s and eventual purchase by American Airlines
, the terminal ended operations in October 2001. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ)
first proposed converting the head house into a restaurant
or conference center, while encircling the existing building with one or possibly two new terminals. The concept received opposition from the Municipal Art Society (MAS)
of New York, as well the architects Philip Johnson
, Robert A.M. Stern. The opposition suggested the building, which brought passengers into immediate view of the sky and aircraft beyond, would be "strangled" if wrapped by another terminal, and that wrapping the Saarinen head house with another terminal would not preserve the spirit of the building but would mummify it "like flies in amber." Philip Johnson, speaking at the 2001 presentation, said of the proposal:
In 2004, the dormant terminal briefly hosted an art exhibition called Terminal 5
, featuring the work of 19 artists from 10 countries. The theme of the show featured work, lectures and temporary installations drawing inspiration from the terminal's architecture — and was to run from October 1, 2004 to January 31, 2005 — though it closed abruptly after the building itself was vandalized during its opening gala.
In 2004, also during its period of disuse, the Municipal Art Society
of New York succeeded in nominating the facility to the National Trust for Historic Preservation
’s list of the 11 Most Endangered Places in America.
began construction of a new terminal facility — for JetBlue Airways
, which occupied the adjacent Terminal 6 and was the airport's fastest-growing carrier — behind and partially encircling Saarinen's original gull-winged building (also known as the head house). Peripheral portions of the original facility were demolished to make space for a mostly new 625000 square feet (58,064.4 m²) facility designed by Gensler
, including 26 gates to accommodate 250 flights per day and 20 million passengers annually.
The new terminal features a 55000 square feet (5,109.7 m²) retail area with 22 food concessions and 35 specialty retail stores along with free wireless internet access
, a children’s play area and a 1,500-space parking garage. As the first airline terminal at JFK designed after the September 11, 2001 attacks
, T5 now contains 20 security lanes, one of the largest checkpoints in a US airline terminal.
The entry hall of the Gensler terminal wraps around the Saarinen head house in a crescent shape and retains the original, iconic departure-arrival passenger tubes from the head house (Tube #1 from the 1962 Saarinen design and Tube #2 from the 1969 Roche-Dinkeloo designed Flight Wing One).
T5 re-opened on October 22, 2008 with JetBlue using an abstraction of the Saarinen terminal's gull-wing shape as the official logo for the event, an abstraction of the new terminal floor plan for the signage
and counting down the re-opening via Twitter
.
JetBlue and PANYNJ
have yet to complete renovation of the original Saarinen head house; proposals include a conference center, an aviation museum, or restaurant. When completed, passengers may be able to check-in for flights at the landmark building, then transfer to the new structure via the original passenger departing-arrival tubes from the Trans World Flight Center.
Tentative plans were also to renovate another portion of the original facility, a salvaged portion of the departure lounges known as The Trumpet. — dating from the 1969, Roche-Dinkeloo Flight Wing One addition. During the construction of the new, Gensler-designed terminal, The Trumpet was lifted and moved 1500 feet at a cost of $895,000 — only to be later demolished when the project's budget prioritized renovating the head house.
over the main terminal (head house), unusual tube-shaped departure-arrival corridors originally wrapped in red carpet — and critical to the spirit of the design — expansive windows that highlighted departing and arriving jets. The concrete shell's evocative shape — which inspired Saarinen to develop special, curved edge ceramic tile to conform to the curvilinear shapes — places the design into the categories of Futurist
, Googie
, and Fantastic architecture
.
The terminal was also the first with enclosed passenger jetways, closed circuit television, a central public address
system, baggage carousel
s, electronic schedule board and baggage scales, and the satellite clustering of gates away from the main terminal. Food and beverage services included the Constellation Club, Lisbon Lounge, and Paris Café.
JFK was unusual in having company-owned and designed terminals. Terminals were built by Eastern Airlines and American Airlines
and while others carried the names of their airlines, including the Worldport
of Pan American World Airways
and the Sundrome
of National Airlines
.
As with many terminals designed before the advent of jumbo jets, increased passenger traffic and security issues, the design proved difficult to update as air travel evolved; terminal gates close to the street made centralized ticketing and security checkpoints difficult.
Airport terminal
An airport terminal is a building at an airport where passengers transfer between ground transportation and the facilities that allow them to board and disembark from aircraft....
at New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
John F. Kennedy International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport is an international airport located in the borough of Queens in New York City, about southeast of Lower Manhattan. It is the busiest international air passenger gateway to the United States, handling more international traffic than any other airport in North...
.for Trans World Airlines
Trans World Airlines
Trans World Airlines was an American airline that existed from 1925 until it was bought out by and merged with American Airlines in 2001. It was a major domestic airline in the United States and the main U.S.-based competitor of Pan American World Airways on intercontinental routes from 1946...
. It was designed by Eero Saarinen
Eero Saarinen
Eero Saarinen was a Finnish American architect and industrial designer of the 20th century famous for varying his style according to the demands of the project: simple, sweeping, arching structural curves or machine-like rationalism.-Biography:Eero Saarinen shared the same birthday as his father,...
.
Portions of the original complex have been demolished, and the Saarinen terminal (or head house
Head house
A head house is a part of a train station.-Rail terminals:In the context of rail transport, head house refers to that portion of a passenger terminal not housing the tracks and platforms themselves. Typically, the head house contains ticket counters, toilets and baggage facilities, if there are...
) has been renovated, partially encircled by and serving as a ceremonial entrance to a new adjacent terminal completed in 2008. Together, the old and new buildings comprise JetBlue Airways
JetBlue Airways
JetBlue Airways Corporation is an American low-cost airline. The company is headquartered in the Forest Hills neighborhood of the New York City borough of Queens. Its main base is John F. Kennedy International Airport, also in Queens....
' JFK operations and are known collectively as Terminal 5 or simply T5.
The City of New York designated both the interiors and the exteriors of the Saarinen terminal a historic landmark in 1994 and in 2005 the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
listed the Trans World Flight Center on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
While noted architect Robert A.M. Stern called the evocative Saarinen-designed TWA Flight Center "Grand Central
Grand Central Terminal
Grand Central Terminal —often incorrectly called Grand Central Station, or shortened to simply Grand Central—is a terminal station at 42nd Street and Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States...
of the jet age", the pragmatic new encircling terminal has been called "hyper-efficient" and a "monument to human throughput".
1962–2005
The TWA Flight Center or Trans World Flight Center, opened in 1962 as the original terminal designed by Eero SaarinenEero Saarinen
Eero Saarinen was a Finnish American architect and industrial designer of the 20th century famous for varying his style according to the demands of the project: simple, sweeping, arching structural curves or machine-like rationalism.-Biography:Eero Saarinen shared the same birthday as his father,...
for Trans World Airlines
Trans World Airlines
Trans World Airlines was an American airline that existed from 1925 until it was bought out by and merged with American Airlines in 2001. It was a major domestic airline in the United States and the main U.S.-based competitor of Pan American World Airways on intercontinental routes from 1946...
at New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
John F. Kennedy International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport is an international airport located in the borough of Queens in New York City, about southeast of Lower Manhattan. It is the busiest international air passenger gateway to the United States, handling more international traffic than any other airport in North...
(which was known as Idlewild Airport at the time).
Eero Saarinen
Eero Saarinen
Eero Saarinen was a Finnish American architect and industrial designer of the 20th century famous for varying his style according to the demands of the project: simple, sweeping, arching structural curves or machine-like rationalism.-Biography:Eero Saarinen shared the same birthday as his father,...
and his Detroit-based firm were commissioned in 1956 to design the TWA Flight Center and given the directive by the client to capture the spirit of flight. By doing so the building took form of a huge bird with wings spread in flight. Known as an indefatigable architect, Saarinen indicated to his client he needed more time — taking another year to resolve the design. The completed terminal was dedicated May 28, 1962 — a year after the architect's death — with Saarinen also winning the AIA Gold Medal
AIA Gold Medal
The AIA Gold Medal is awarded by the American Institute of Architects conferred "by the national AIA Board of Directors in recognition of a significant body of work of lasting influence on the theory and practice of architecture."...
posthumously in 1962.
Roche-Dinkeloo
Roche-Dinkeloo, otherwise known as Kevin Roche John Dinkeloo and Associates LLC , is an architectural firm based in Hamden, Connecticut founded in 1966....
to accommodate (then new) wide-body aircraft
Wide-body aircraft
A wide-body aircraft is a large airliner with two passenger aisles, also known as a widebody aircraft or twin-aisle aircraft. The typical fuselage diameter is . In the typical wide-body economy cabin, passengers are seated seven to ten abreast, allowing a total capacity of 200 to 850 passengers...
such as the Boeing 747
Boeing 747
The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced...
.
Following TWA's continued financial deterioration during the 1990s and eventual purchase by American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
, the terminal ended operations in October 2001. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ)
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is a bi-state port district, established in 1921 through an interstate compact, that runs most of the regional transportation infrastructure, including the bridges, tunnels, airports, and seaports, within the Port of New York and New Jersey...
first proposed converting the head house into a restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
or conference center, while encircling the existing building with one or possibly two new terminals. The concept received opposition from the Municipal Art Society (MAS)
Municipal Art Society
The Municipal Art Society of New York, founded in 1893, is a non-profit membership organization that fights for intelligent urban planning, design and preservation through education, dialogue and advocacy in New York City....
of New York, as well the architects Philip Johnson
Philip Johnson
Philip Cortelyou Johnson was an influential American architect.In 1930, he founded the Department of Architecture and Design at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, and later , as a trustee, he was awarded an American Institute of Architects Gold Medal and the first Pritzker Architecture...
, Robert A.M. Stern. The opposition suggested the building, which brought passengers into immediate view of the sky and aircraft beyond, would be "strangled" if wrapped by another terminal, and that wrapping the Saarinen head house with another terminal would not preserve the spirit of the building but would mummify it "like flies in amber." Philip Johnson, speaking at the 2001 presentation, said of the proposal:
In 2004, the dormant terminal briefly hosted an art exhibition called Terminal 5
Terminal 5 (exhibition)
Terminal 5 was an art exhibition that took place in October 2004 at the then disused Eero Saarinen–designed TWA Flight Center at New York's JFK Airport....
, featuring the work of 19 artists from 10 countries. The theme of the show featured work, lectures and temporary installations drawing inspiration from the terminal's architecture — and was to run from October 1, 2004 to January 31, 2005 — though it closed abruptly after the building itself was vandalized during its opening gala.
In 2004, also during its period of disuse, the Municipal Art Society
Municipal Art Society
The Municipal Art Society of New York, founded in 1893, is a non-profit membership organization that fights for intelligent urban planning, design and preservation through education, dialogue and advocacy in New York City....
of New York succeeded in nominating the facility to the National Trust for Historic Preservation
National Trust for Historic Preservation
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is an American member-supported organization that was founded in 1949 by congressional charter to support preservation of historic buildings and neighborhoods through a range of programs and activities, including the publication of Preservation...
’s list of the 11 Most Endangered Places in America.
2005–2009 Jetblue T5
In December 2005, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ)Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is a bi-state port district, established in 1921 through an interstate compact, that runs most of the regional transportation infrastructure, including the bridges, tunnels, airports, and seaports, within the Port of New York and New Jersey...
began construction of a new terminal facility — for JetBlue Airways
JetBlue Airways
JetBlue Airways Corporation is an American low-cost airline. The company is headquartered in the Forest Hills neighborhood of the New York City borough of Queens. Its main base is John F. Kennedy International Airport, also in Queens....
, which occupied the adjacent Terminal 6 and was the airport's fastest-growing carrier — behind and partially encircling Saarinen's original gull-winged building (also known as the head house). Peripheral portions of the original facility were demolished to make space for a mostly new 625000 square feet (58,064.4 m²) facility designed by Gensler
Gensler
Gensler is an American design and architecture firm headquartered in San Francisco, California. The firm was founded in 1965 by Art Gensler, Drue Gensler, and James Follett, and originally focused on corporate interiors...
, including 26 gates to accommodate 250 flights per day and 20 million passengers annually.
The new terminal features a 55000 square feet (5,109.7 m²) retail area with 22 food concessions and 35 specialty retail stores along with free wireless internet access
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi or Wifi, is a mechanism for wirelessly connecting electronic devices. A device enabled with Wi-Fi, such as a personal computer, video game console, smartphone, or digital audio player, can connect to the Internet via a wireless network access point. An access point has a range of about 20...
, a children’s play area and a 1,500-space parking garage. As the first airline terminal at JFK designed after the September 11, 2001 attacks
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
, T5 now contains 20 security lanes, one of the largest checkpoints in a US airline terminal.
The entry hall of the Gensler terminal wraps around the Saarinen head house in a crescent shape and retains the original, iconic departure-arrival passenger tubes from the head house (Tube #1 from the 1962 Saarinen design and Tube #2 from the 1969 Roche-Dinkeloo designed Flight Wing One).
T5 re-opened on October 22, 2008 with JetBlue using an abstraction of the Saarinen terminal's gull-wing shape as the official logo for the event, an abstraction of the new terminal floor plan for the signage
and counting down the re-opening via Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
.
JetBlue and PANYNJ
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is a bi-state port district, established in 1921 through an interstate compact, that runs most of the regional transportation infrastructure, including the bridges, tunnels, airports, and seaports, within the Port of New York and New Jersey...
have yet to complete renovation of the original Saarinen head house; proposals include a conference center, an aviation museum, or restaurant. When completed, passengers may be able to check-in for flights at the landmark building, then transfer to the new structure via the original passenger departing-arrival tubes from the Trans World Flight Center.
Tentative plans were also to renovate another portion of the original facility, a salvaged portion of the departure lounges known as The Trumpet. — dating from the 1969, Roche-Dinkeloo Flight Wing One addition. During the construction of the new, Gensler-designed terminal, The Trumpet was lifted and moved 1500 feet at a cost of $895,000 — only to be later demolished when the project's budget prioritized renovating the head house.
Saarinen head house
Saarinen's original futuristic design featured a prominent wing-shaped thin shell roofThin-shell structure
Thin-shell structures are light weight constructions using shell elements. These elements are typically curved and are assembled to large structures...
over the main terminal (head house), unusual tube-shaped departure-arrival corridors originally wrapped in red carpet — and critical to the spirit of the design — expansive windows that highlighted departing and arriving jets. The concrete shell's evocative shape — which inspired Saarinen to develop special, curved edge ceramic tile to conform to the curvilinear shapes — places the design into the categories of Futurist
Futurist architecture
Futurist architecture is an early-20th century form of architecture characterized by anti-historicism and long horizontal lines suggesting speed, motion and urgency. Technology and even violence were among the themes of the Futurists. The movement was founded by the poet Filippo Tommaso...
, Googie
Googie architecture
Googie architecture is a form of modern architecture, a subdivision of futurist architecture influenced by car culture and the Space and Atomic Ages....
, and Fantastic architecture
Fantastic architecture
Fantastic architecture is an architectural style featuring attention grabbing buildings. Such buildings can be considered as works of art, and are normally built purely for the amusement of its owner....
.
The terminal was also the first with enclosed passenger jetways, closed circuit television, a central public address
Public address
A public address system is an electronic amplification system with a mixer, amplifier and loudspeakers, used to reinforce a sound source, e.g., a person giving a speech, a DJ playing prerecorded music, and distributing the sound throughout a venue or building.Simple PA systems are often used in...
system, baggage carousel
Baggage carousel
A baggage carousel is a device, generally at an airport, that delivers checked luggage to the passengers at the baggage claim area at their final destination. Not all airports use these devices...
s, electronic schedule board and baggage scales, and the satellite clustering of gates away from the main terminal. Food and beverage services included the Constellation Club, Lisbon Lounge, and Paris Café.
JFK was unusual in having company-owned and designed terminals. Terminals were built by Eastern Airlines and American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
and while others carried the names of their airlines, including the Worldport
Worldport (Pan Am)
Terminal 3 at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City, formerly known by the trademarked name Worldport, is an iconic airport terminal built by Pan American World Airways in 1960, now expected to be completely demolished by 2015....
of Pan American World Airways
Pan American World Airways
Pan American World Airways, commonly known as Pan Am, was the principal and largest international air carrier in the United States from 1927 until its collapse on December 4, 1991...
and the Sundrome
Sundrome
The Sundrome was the name for the terminal of National Airlines at John F. Kennedy International Airport. It was designed by I. M. Pei & Partners . Opened in 1970, it is now known as Terminal 6...
of National Airlines
National Airlines (NA)
National Airlines was an airline founded in 1934 and was headquartered on the grounds of Miami International Airport in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States near Miami.- History :...
.
As with many terminals designed before the advent of jumbo jets, increased passenger traffic and security issues, the design proved difficult to update as air travel evolved; terminal gates close to the street made centralized ticketing and security checkpoints difficult.