Archinect - News

New York officially cancels LaGuardia AirTrain project

2023-03-13T15:55:00-04:00

State officials in New York have finally slammed the door on the proposed $2.4 billion AirTrain project at LaGuardia Airport over cost concerns.

The New York Times is reporting that the project was formally called off by Governor Kathy Hochul on Monday in favor of a less expensive plan that would offer additional Q70 bus service between the airport and subway stations in northern Queens.

The AirTrain was halted in October 2021 over costs and the potential impact on vulnerable Queens neighborhoods standing in the path of what some considered to be former Governor Andrew Cuomo’s personal obsession. Calls for its cancellation began almost immediately following his resignation in the face of a sexual harassment scandal just two months prior.

Previously on Archinect: Port Authority releases 14 alternatives to the LaGuardia AirTrain project

As the Times reported, the two recently-completed Terminal C and Terminal B projects included infrastructure to accommodate the AirTrain. The plan had...

Delta's $4 billion Terminal C has opened at LaGuardia Airport

2022-06-10T18:52:00-04:00

Terminal C, Delta’s new dedicated terminal, is now complete and open for business at LaGuardia Airport. The $4 billion terminal spans 1.3 million square feet and represents Delta’s largest-ever airport investment. New facilities include 37 gates, 36 full-service check-in counters, 49 self-service kiosks, 16 bag drop counters, 11 security screening lanes with room for five additional lanes in the future, and 13 restrooms.

This is the latest milestone in the six-year, $8 billion reconstruction of LaGuardia Airport (LGA). It follows the recent opening of a second skybridge as part of the HOK and WSP-designed Terminal B renovation. For this project, LGA Terminals C and D will be consolidated into a single terminal across four concourses and a centralized departures and arrivals hall. The new terminal also features Delta’s largest airport lounge, a 34,000-square-foot Sky Club that will accommodate up to 600 guests.

Delta opened its new Terminal C at LGA to customers on June 4, 2022. The airline will fully complete the entire four-concourse terminal by the end of 2024, two years ahead of schedule.

David Adjaye and HOK are both named as TIME100 honorees

2022-03-31T13:35:00-04:00

David Adjaye has been given a TIME100 Impact Award, and HOK has made the magazine’s list of the 100 most influential companies as part of the annual designation released this week. The two are the sole representatives of the architectural industry on a pair of lists that includes multiple online retailers, tech company leaders, houses of finance, and engineering concerns.

TIME singled out HOK’s design for the new Terminal B at New York's LaGuardia Airport, saying it now constitutes “the gold standard for airport design moving forward.”

The magazine also selected Adjaye as one of its 2022 Impact Award recipients for his innovative work across multiple typologies.

Speaking at a ceremony at Dubai’s newly-opened Museum of the Future, the Ghanaian-British architect said: “You are shaped by the world around you. It’s not just enough to build [...] it’s important to imbue the future we make with the past, and to im...

Port Authority releases 14 alternatives to the LaGuardia AirTrain project

2022-03-04T12:47:00-05:00

One of Governor Kathy Hochul’s first moves in office was to pause her predecessor’s plans for a $2 billion AirTrain at LaGuardia Airport and ask the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to come up with other options. On Wednesday, the Port Authority released sketches for 14 alternatives, including light rail, bus routes and subway extensions. It’s now seeking community input before moving forward.

A questionnaire detailing the options and the factors being considered in evaluating the proposals was sent to more than 70 key stakeholders, including elected officials and community organizations. The alternatives include two potential subway extensions, five potential routes for fixed guideways for light rail connections, five potential bus routes, ferry service, and “emerging technologies.” At the end of their document, the Port Authority lists further potential options, such as “narrow tunnels with electric vehicles” and autonomous shuttles or buses.

Previously on Archinect: Port Authority officially halts the LaGuardian AirTrain project

There currently aren’t any listed costs for the proposals. In mid-March, two in-person public workshops will be held to gather input from the community.

Long-awaited LaGuardia Airport Terminal B renovation approaches completion with new skybridge

2022-02-24T16:33:00-05:00

New York City's LaGuardia Airport opened its second skybridge to passengers on Jan. 28, marking the final milestone of the nearly six-year renovation of Terminal B. The old airport was notorious for its poor condition; former Gov. Andrew Cuomo called it "outdated, overcrowded and unworthy of the Empire State."

With construction costs, the HOK and WSP-designed Terminal B renovation is valued at $8 billion. According to a spokesperson for LaGuardia Gateway Partners, the overall project is now about 95% complete. The final portion of the original terminal must be demolished in order to open the remaining gates and the airplane taxiway underneath the new western skybridge.

Previously on Archinect: Another look at HOK's new La Guardia Airport terminal

The 485-foot skybridge provides a direct route between the western concourse and the Arrivals & Departures Hall with views of the Manhattan skyline. It was built with over 2,500 tons of steel. According to airport officials, LaGuardia is the only airport in the world to have dual pedestrian skybridges. The first of the two, serving the eastern concourse, opened in May.

Port Authority officially halts the LaGuardian AirTrain project

2021-10-19T12:05:00-04:00

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has officially halted plans to build the $2.1 billion LaGuardia AirTrain, a project heavily pushed by former Governor Andrew Cuomo. The announcement came just a week after Cuomo’s successor Kathy Hochul called on the agency to seek alternative transit solutions to LaGuardia Airport.

Previously on Archinect: Governor Hochul seeks alternative to Cuomo's controversial LaGuardia AirTrain project

“At Governor Hochul’s request, the Port Authority is undertaking a thorough review of potential alternative mass transit options to LaGuardia Airport,” reads a statement released by the Port Authority. “The agency will work in close consultation with independent experts and stakeholders, and will complete its work as expeditiously as possible, consistent with the need for the review to be thorough and rigorous. During the review, the Port Authority will pause further action with respect to the LaGuardia AirTrain project.”

The controversial project ha...

Governor Hochul seeks alternative to Cuomo's controversial LaGuardia AirTrain project

2021-10-08T15:05:00-04:00

Several New York state lawmakers are calling on Governor Kathy Hochul to kill the plans for a $2.1 billion AirTrain to LaGuardia Airport. Hochul released a statement Monday calling on the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, an agency she has at least partial control over, to look for alternative options.

“I have asked the Port Authority to thoroughly examine alternative mass transit solutions for reducing car traffic and increasing connectivity to LaGuardia Airport,” said Hochul in a statement. “We must ensure that our transportation projects are bold, visionary, and serve the needs of New Yorkers. I remain committed to working expeditiously to rebuild our infrastructure for the 21st century and to create jobs — not just at LaGuardia but at all of our airports and transit hubs across New York."

Hochul’s remarks came just before a rally on Monday in Corona, Queens at a site along the potential AirTrain route held by project opponents, including State Senators Jessica Ramos, Leroy Comrie, Michael Gianaris, and John Liu, who pushed the governor to terminate the project altogether rather than just explore other options.

Previously on Archinect: FAA approves $2.1 billion LaGuardia AirTrain

Noting the damages and ongoing clean-up from Hurricane Ida, along with the community’s experience ...

Port Authority workers call on leadership to halt LaGuardia AirTrain project following Cuomo's departure from office

2021-08-13T14:05:00-04:00

Within hours following New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s resignation from office after a slew of sexual harassment accusations, Port Authority workers issued a letter to executive director Rick Cotton calling for the termination of the former governor’s controversial LaGuardia AirTrain proposal.

An excerpt from the letter, according to the New York Daily News, reads: “For too long, Gov. Cuomo and his staff have repeatedly pushed the agency to make non-transparent, politically motivated decisions, including decisions that squander the trust and money of our bondholders, customers, and the general public.” The letter also calls for the Port Authority Inspector General to examine whether Cuomo tried to unfairly influence the federally-mandated environmental impact statement process to approve the plan despite other alternatives and the protests of transit experts.

Just last month, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved the estimated $2.1 billion project, which would see th...

FAA approves $2.1 billion LaGuardia AirTrain

2021-07-23T16:39:00-04:00

Earlier this week, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved the estimated $2.1 billion LaGuardia AirTrain, an initiative to connect New York’s LaGuardia Airport with Manhattan. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will now be able to pursue federal funding for the project.

The 1.5-mile transit link will connect the airport’s Delta Airlines terminal to Willets Point Station, which borders Citi Field, the home of the New York Mets, and is served by the Long Island Rail Road and the Number 7 subway line. The Port Authority has claimed that the trip length will be 30 minutes from Midtown Manhattan to the airport. The project is expected to create 3,000 construction jobs and generate $500 million in contracting opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses, along with jobs for local residents, according to projects made by the Queens Chamber of Commerce.

Previously on Archinect: Construction on LaGuardia AirTrain Planned to Start this Summer

The approval comes...

Construction on LaGuardia AirTrain Planned to Start this Summer

2021-03-16T18:39:00-04:00

"A better way to LGA" is further crystalizing with a nod from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Yesterday, the FAA released its Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), a document supporting the AirTrain LGA, a $2 billion, 1.5-mile transit link that would connect LaGuardia Airport with public transit."

The FAA should release a “Record of Decision” later this spring, at which point construction on the AirTrain can begin. The initial stages of construction, including on-airport utility work and foundations for the AirTrain guideway and station, are slated to start in June 2021.

Another look at HOK's new La Guardia Airport terminal

2020-06-16T20:42:00-04:00

The public opening of the new HOK- and WSP-designed La Guardia Terminal B in New York City took place last weekend, revealing a new 850,000-square-foot terminal set to become the first component of a totally revamped airport complex.

The airport contains a series of mesmerizing public art works that have been installed in the terminal areas and also features new passenger check-in areas, new baggage terminals, and new food, beverage, and retail functions while offering panoramic views of the New York City skyline.

The airport terminal is connected two concourses via a pair of 450-foot-long steel truss pedestrian bridges that rise 65-feet in the air and provide visual connections between passengers and the city's growing skylines.

Carl Galioto, FAIA, HOK’s president and New York office managing principal, explains via press release: “Our design concept focuses on two main components: a superior passenger experience and an exterior architectural expression that conveys a civic prese...

A look at the artworks inside HOK's new La Guardia Airport terminal

2020-06-10T18:59:00-04:00

If you want to visit an art gallery in New York anytime soon, consider a trip to La Guardia Airport beginning Saturday. That’s the grand opening of its new Terminal B, home to four airlines and interlaced with four sprawling art installations. With three of the four works accessible without a boarding pass, Terminal B just may be the best indoor space for contemporary art — no appointment needed — that the public is welcome to visit in phase one of New York’s reopening.

Journalist Hilarie M. Sheets, writing in The New York Times, takes a look at the newly installed public art works included in a recently completed Terminal B facility at La Guardia Airport in New York City. The airport terminal includes new artworks by artists Sarah Sze, Laura Owens, Sabine Hornig and Jeppe Hein.

The airport expansion, designed by HOK, is part of an $8 billion top-to-bottom renovation and reconstruction of the existing airport site. The airport is due to open to the public this weekend.

AirTrain price tag rises to $2 billion as LGA overhaul takes shape

2019-07-02T19:13:00-04:00

“These are expensive projects. There’s no question. But if we are to reap the benefits of mass transit, we have to provide mass transit that is attractive to individual travelers and their families,” said Rick Cotton, the executive director at the Port Authority, without explaining the rise in cost. “Experience shows that rail mass transit is the most attractive alternative, and we’re committed to provided that.”

While the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey works to implement an $8 billion overhaul of LaGuardia Airport, costs for a planned AirTrain link connecting the airport to regional mass transit continue to grow.

According to AM New York, when first proposed in 2014, the two-mile monorail was projected to cost $450 million to build. Now, five years later, the cost has ballooned to $2.05 billion, a 356-percent increase. Officials have not explained the reasons behind the sharp increase, but have indicated that most of the increases will come out of the Port Authority's coffers.

Rendering depicting the forthcoming concourse set to open fall 2019. Image courtesy of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s office.

If completed as planned, the two-mile AirTrain line could connect the Willets Point Long Island Rail Road and the No. 7 subway to the airport, establishing the first public transit link to LaGuardia.

The cost increase comes as new renderings are unveiled for the LaGuardia Airport expansio...

Construction officially underway at Delta’s new $4B LaGuardia facilities, new renderings and details

2017-08-09T12:44:00-04:00

Since Governor Cuomo unveiled his plans for a revamped LaGuardia Airport two years ago, the cost has ballooned from $4 to $8 billion, with $4 billion alone going towards Delta’s rebuilt facilities. Construction has finally begun on this part of the project, with the Port Authority signing a long-term lease with Delta Air Lines, which “marks the beginning of construction on the final component of the entirely new, unified airport at LaGuardia," according to a press release from the Governor.

Rikers Island proposed for Laguardia Airport expansion

2017-04-05T18:46:00-04:00

The Island is uniquely positioned to accommodate an expanded LaGuardia Airport that would reduce delays and could serve as many as 12 million more passengers annually.

Last week, New York Mayor Bill De Blasio announced that the city would close Rikers Island jail complex. The news followed a report by the Independent Commission on New York City Criminal Justice and Incarceration Reform which recommended such action. The report also included a number of innovative ideas for a post-jail Rikers, including expanding LaGuardia Airport onto the island and adding a new runway and more terminal space.

The New LaGuardia Airport: Not Functional, Not Inspiring, Not an Icon

2015-08-10T13:06:00-04:00

The published renderings that accompanied the announcement were not terribly reassuring, as they depicted a very long curved terminal with gangly tentacles raised over plane taxiways that hinted at torsos of praying mantises: an awkward rather than a graceful vault.

A new LaGuardia is the "airport that New York deserves", says Gov. Cuomo

2015-07-30T15:00:00-04:00

'We are transforming LaGuardia into a globally-renowned, 21st century airport that is worthy of the city and state of New York. It’s the perfect metaphor for what we can achieve with the ambition and optimism and energy that made this the Empire State in the first place, and I want to thank our many partners for joining us to build the airport that New York deserves.' — Gov. Cuomo

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo alongside Vice President Joe Biden officially unveiled the proposed design for the new LaGuardia Airport earlier this week. The $4 billion revamp will transform the airport into a single, structurally unified main terminal, including expanded transportation access and increased taxiway space, and new top-notch passenger amenities.

The overhaul aims to alleviate the air-ground congestion and gate delays that have long plagued the airport — to the point where Biden previously described it as a place one would find in "some third world country". According to a report by the Governor’s Airport Master Plan Advisory Panel, the LaGuardia Airport is "consistently rated as among the worst airports in the world".

Groundbreaking of the first half of the project is expected to start in 2016, once the Board of Directors of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey grants final approval. The first half is expected to open to passengers in 2019, and full completion...