Newark Liberty International Airport [EWR] recently opened a brand-new Terminal A with some very unique to New Jersey design elements.
EWR underwent a $2.7 billion Terminal Redevelopment Program to modernize and replace Terminal A, provide associated roadway, airside improvements and a new parking garage.
The project features a 33-gate 1,000,000-square-foot terminal building, redesigned roadways with eight new bridges, 140 acres of airfield paving and a 2,700-space parking garage.
Chief Operating Officer of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey James “Jim” Heitman said the new terminal replaces an outdated terminal originally build in the early seventies that no longer met post-9/11 security needs.
“It replaces 33 gates that existed in the existing terminal but accommodates the larger aircraft with the modern amenities that come to be expected,” Heitman said. “We call them the brilliant basics to create a world-class experience for our customers.”
Heitman said Terminal A is opening in two phases. Phase one opened in January with 21 gates and Phase two will open by the end of the year.
“Once we move the passengers and the airline operations from the existing terminals to here, there is a way for us to do demolition, complete the north side of the terminal, and open the next 12 gates which is phase two,” Heitman said.
EWR worked with Tutor Perini, the design-build contractor, Grimshaw, the architectural designer, and STV, the engineer of record, to create a terminal that represents New Jersey.
A Very Jersey Terminal
The first thing travelers will notice walking into the terminal is the slotted ceiling design and matching floor pattern.
Grimshaw Lead Architect Mark Husser said the purpose of the unique ceiling design was to let in as much natural light as possible.
“We developed a ceiling concept that filters the light. So, there are diamond-shaped skylights on the upper roof and then we use this sort of slatted, triangular ceiling pattern to filter the light into the space,” Husser said. “Then, the way that the diamond-shaped skylights, actually when you have direct light, is cast onto the floor you see sort of chevron-type patterns, and so that became the inspiration for the floor pattern with the terrazzo inlays.”
The seating throughout the terminal was thoughtfully selected for both the comfort of travelers but also to reflect New Jersey. One example is the installation of boardwalk-style lounge chairs selected by the Munich Airport Group.
“The boardwalk concept really came from this idea of the sort of Jersey Shore and the boardwalk and people,” Husser said. “In the airport, you get everything from business travelers, they were very familiar and move right through the airport terminal to families or elderly people or people with reduced mobility. So, hold rooms have really evolved from being the typical kind of beam seating, bench-type seating to having a lot more diversity for the different traveling passenger types. And so that was an idea that again was sort of inspired by a bit of New Jersey.”
The terminal features many nature-inspired elements including table/charging stations designed to look like cherry blossom trees, several plants throughout the facility and four different themed (Coast - blue, Woodland - green, Communities - red, Metro - yellow) restrooms that also pay tribute to New Jersey and nature.
“The idea is that wherever you are in the terminal, you will have a different experience in the restrooms, and that if you travel frequently through the terminal, there's still a fair amount of variety of experience,” Husser said. “They also go along with different color themes, there's a color theme that's associated with each of those of those experience themes.”
Travelers will also notice many different art pieces throughout the terminal, 29 of which were created by local artists. The art on display ranges from large hanging and static pieces to small paintings and murals.
One of the most notable murals created by local artist Layqa Nuna Yawar showcases some of the Port Authority’s airport workers in a 350-foot painting located in the Arrivals Hall and Concourse level.
Accommodations
EWR’s concession and retail space have dedicated areas that put the spotlight on local small business owners.
“Throughout our concessions program, we also set up six small spaces for an easy entry for local vendors to come in and set up shop in this very complex environment,” Heitman said. “So, we're most proud of the way we embrace the community, reflecting the community locally and in New Jersey through art, through our digital experience and through our concessions offerings.”
The airport also built a sensory room within the terminal for travelers who need a quite space to go relax.
“We really focused on the different types of needs of the different types of passengers. So, we've introduced something that we're very proud of. We're creating a sensory room for autistic individuals or people with other sensory overload needs,” Heitman said. “So, we created a quiet space for them to go and to ease the pain through these very, very stressful transactions.”
The sensory space features two large fish tanks, sensory-satisfying water towers and unique seating that resembles stones along a river depicted on the carpet.
Located in the East Concourse of Terminal A is a children’s play area.
“You're traveling with your kids, you have to get to the airport early, and that gives them an opportunity to play and have fun,” Heitman said. “It's great for the kids and great for the parents.”
Technology
As travelers check-in and head to TSA, they will notice a large LED display overhead that welcomes them to the new terminal and New Jersey. Beyond check-in travelers are greeted with several other digital displays showcasing the Garden State.
The Port Authority and Munich Airport NJ LLC contracted with Moment Factory to design the “Forest of Firsts” which is an immersive multimedia digital display located just outside of TSA at the heart of the terminal. The display features the state’s firsts in multiple categories of human accomplishment in science, literature, energy, film and more accompanied by music and moving graphics.
“Some of the unique features that we tried to incorporate into this terminal is to really embrace the fact that we are in New Jersey. We're very proud of that,” Heitman said. “We want to make that evident throughout your journey. So, you'll see a lot of digital technology with a lot of fun facts about New Jersey.” Heitman said the new terminal is different from the old terminal in many ways, but most notably is the technology.
“The old terminals were built pre 9/11 pre-security standards. The new one has modern latest technology and TSA security screening that does the most comprehensive type of screening and in a very quick and efficient manner,” Heitman said.
“Technology is always changing, evolving, and some of the highlights that we've incorporated here are touchless,” Heitman said. “Especially being built in the middle of COVID, we even went a little step further to make sure that we used modern technology. So, there's biometrics, facial recognition that you can opt into, but even if you don't, there's touchless processing throughout the terminal, both to get into the TSA line and then to get on the plane when you're ready to board.”
Sustainability
The Port Authority’s sustainability goals include going net-zero by 2050. Part of that goal was trying to make the new infrastructure as efficient as possible. The airport introduced photovoltaics at the entrance of the terminal. In addition, EWR installed the single largest solar panel installation of its type on top of the public parking facility.
“It's a five-megawatt installation, which is the largest installation of its type at an airport, and we're very proud of that,” Heitman said. “It was activated earlier this year, and the last I checked it already produced a gigawatt of power.
In addition to the solar, Heitman said EWR is trying to make the parking and rental car facility with the rental car partner’s EV ready.
“So, we put in over 150 EV chargers in our public parking facility, and we work with the rental car facilities to put the infrastructure in and to be able to provide the demands for 100% conversion of electric vehicles in the rental car market as well,” Heitman said.
Parking Facility
“This was a public private partnership with the rental car companies, a private developer and the Port Authority,” Heitman said. So, we have our top three floors, our public parking, the bottom three floors, our rental car facilities and we tried to embrace the same themes. So, we have New Jersey themes throughout the terminal to represent the urban, the shore, the forest, the cities, and communities.”
On the exterior of the parking facility is a New Jersey aviation-based theme that travelers can see as they drive by.
“It’s bas-relief art, which is where you take a surface and imprint the images,” Heitman said. “So, you'll see around this facility, aviation Transportation themes and New Jersey with the Lady Liberty featured front and center on the facility.”
Challenges and Successes
Husser said the biggest privilege while designing the terminal was being able to think about the future of the airport.
“To able to think about the future of the airport itself and how this terminal might actually frame the development of future terminals,” Husser said. “So, to try and essentially create a new terminal experience that is forward-looking and progressive as a transition between those terminals which are 50 years old and the next generation of terminals.”
Tutor Perini Chairman and CEO Ronald Tutor said one of the most challenging parts of this project was the enormity of the security and systems and tie-ins with everything that runs the building.
“It's what we call a smart building. And the processes, security, controls are so sophisticated and so overwhelming is to be a challenge to get them done and get them accepted,” Tutor said. “The buildings get more complicated in their systems, particularly in an airport terminal where security is so important.”
Tutor said one of the biggest things an airport needs to consider before undergoing a project of this scope is their own capacity of manage the construction.
“There are constant decisions every day. And the whole process they go through, whether it's design-build or design-bid-build. It's a huge undertaking, not only for the contractor, but for the owner because it requires their decisions and their input virtually every day of the job till it's completed,” Tutor said.
Tutor’s advice for managing a project of this magnitude is to, “Establish schedules that in today's times are achievable and not difficult to the point of bordering on the undoable. Try to establish a process that allows you the time to make timely decisions and essentially focus on schedule.”
Tutor attributes the success of this project to, “Decisive leadership on the part of the owner. A proactive approach to being involved in helping it make the project succeed and a good relationship with a general contractor so that everybody works in concert, not against each other's work product.”
“We were fortunate to have the Port Authority, which is an excellent, knowledgeable owner. It's a challenge that it's done, it's a beautiful well-functioning terminal, so the challenge worked,” Tutor said.
