Partners the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, American Airlines, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) Airports, and Holt Construction, have begun work on the transformation of the commercial redevelopment programme at John F Kennedy International Airport’s (JFK) Terminal 8. A seasonal local artist showcase within the terminal, A Traveling Dream, also opened, in celebration of the depth and vibrancy of the airport’s host community, Jamaica, and greater Queens.
The $125m commercial redevelopment programme 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, will transform the customer experience at the terminal with a complete redesign and expansion of the concessions programme. It will include new dining, retail, duty-free shopping, performance space, and new digitally enabled experiences for customers of American and its partner airlines.
The commercial redevelopment follows the $400m expansion of Terminal 8. Completed in November 2022, the expansion and modernisation of Terminal 8 is part of the Port Authority’s $19bn redevelopment of JFK.
Championing local art
URW collaborated with a Queens-based artist studio, Vaughn Bentley Creative, to transform construction barricades into a massive canvas to promote the local arts community and 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 will 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, 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.
“A reimagined commercial programme paired with inspiring public art will elevate the passenger experience at Terminal 8, as part of our $19bn 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.”
