JFK’s only on-airport hotel opened its 512 soundproof guestrooms, restaurants and retail outlets this week.
Thousands of guests watched New York Governor Andrew M Cuomo and Tyler Morse, CEO and managing partner of MCR and Morse Development, cut the ribbon in the hotel’s iconic Sunken Lounge.
Visitors celebrating the careful restoration of Eero Saarinen’s landmark 1962 former Trans World Airlines terminal — which now serves as the heart of the 512-room hotel — included former TWA staff, many of them wearing their uniforms.
Set in two low-rise buildings, the TWA Hotel’s 512 ultra-quiet, sixties-inspired guest rooms will feature authentic Saarinen-designed mid-century modern Knoll furnishings, martini bars, vintage rotary phones and bathrooms with Hollywood-style vanities.
The rooms, designed by New York City firm Stonehill Taylor, will be accessible from JFK through the flight tubes made famous by film Catch Me If You Can.
Morse said of the project, “We restored and reimagined his landmark with the same care that Saarinen devoted to his design. No detail went overlooked — from the millwork by Amish artisans, to the custom font inspired by Saarinen’s own sketches, to the one-of-a-kind manhole covers. Starting today, the world can enjoy this mid-century marvel for many years to come.”
The TWA Hotel’s 1958 Lockheed Constellation ‘Connie’ airplane has been transformed into a cocktail lounge. Credit: TWA Hotel/David Mitchell.
Photo 10: The Paris Café by Jean-Georges serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Credit: TWA Hotel/David Mitchell.
