Governor Andrew M Cuomo has formally approved a 75-year lease deal to turn the landmark TWA Flight Center at John F Kennedy Airport in New York into a hotel complex.
Cuomo said, “This administration has committed to modernizing New York’s airports for the 21st century by creating gateways worthy of New York City and ensuring travelers have the services they need. At the TWA Flight Center, we are able to meet those goals while also preserving its iconic design for passengers to enjoy for decades to come.”
The US$265m construction project, which is expected to break ground next year, will generate 3,700 jobs and is expected to open in 2018. MCR Development will undertake the construction work.
When complete, the Flight Center Hotel will have 505 rooms, 40,000ft2 of meeting space, restaurants, a spa and a 10,000ft2 observation deck. The complex will feature two six-story hotel towers and a micro-grid energy management system, allowing the building to generate its own power. Governor Cuomo first announced plans for the hotel in July 2015.
Pat Foye, executive director, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the airport operator, said, “The Port Authority is proud to ensure the TWA Flight Center plays a critical role in JFK Airport’s future, while acknowledging its importance in aviation history. The new hotel will serve the growing needs of our passengers throughout the 21st century, with a touch of the bygone era of glamorous mid-20th Century jet-age travel.”
Tyler Morse, CEO of MCR Development, said, “We are proud to help advance Governor Cuomo’s plan to modernize our region’s aviation infrastructure by bringing the TWA Flight Center, the most storied symbol of the jet age, back to life. Accessible to the general public as well as all airlines from all terminals, the 505-room hotel at the rehabilitated TWA Flight Center will be a tremendous amenity for the entire JFK International Airport. Thank you to Governor Cuomo and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for this incredible opportunity to celebrate and preserve Eero Saarinen’s historic masterpiece.”
