Reception desk at the TWA Hotel pre-opening sales office at the World Trade Center. (Image: Emily Gilbert)
The foundations have been laid and construction is proceeding on the new TWA Hotel at New York JFK Airport, a 505-room property that incorporates the original 1962 TWA Terminal as its centerpiece.
A pair of guest room structures will soon rise on either side of the old terminal, which is being preserved and restored, and will also be linked to JetBlue’s Terminal 5 at the airport. The hotel construction and terminal restoration is a project of MCR Development.
Designed by renowned architect Eero Saarinen, the terminal – also known as the TWA Flight Center — is distinguished by its sweeping curves, a striking example of the Midcentury Modern style. The TWA Hotel – the only on-site hotel at JFK – will also offer 40,000 square feet of meeting and event space, eight food and beverage outlets, and a 10,000 square foot observation deck where plane spotters can watch aircraft take off and land.
The hotel this week cut the ribbon on a pre-opening sales office on the 86th floor of the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan. The office has many design elements taken from the TWA Flight Center, along with TWA memorabilia. A press release states: “With views from Manhattan to JFK Airport 12 miles to the east, the TWA lounge at 1WTC on the 86th floor, designed by Lubrano Ciavarra Architects, is informed by key design features of Eero Saarinen’s iconic TWA Flight Center.”
Wanna see the lounge at WTC in Manhattan? While it’s not really open to the public, here’s what a spokesperson told TravelSkills: We are thrilled to welcome partners, friends, and fans of the TWA brand at the TWA lounge. We will be hosting special opportunities to visit the space so stay tuned. For now, appointments can be made by emailing 1WTC@TWAHotel.com.
The hotel already has a website at www.twahotel.com.
Here’s a look at both projects:
Carpeting inside the TWA Flight Center at JFK is still “TWA Red.” ((Image: Max Touhey)
The sweeping curves of the TWA Terminal’s exterior. (Image: Max Touhey)
The spacious interior of the TWA Flight Center. (Image: Max Touhey)
The foundation for the TWA Hotel is complete. (Image: MCR)
View of the construction zone from the JetBlue Terminal next door. (Image: Max Touhey)
Reception desk at the TWA Hotel pre-opening sales office at the World Trade Center. (Image: Emily Gilbert)
The TWA Lounge at the World Trade Center reflects the design from the TWA Flight Center. (Image: Jesse David Harris)
Vintage uniforms are on display at the TWA Lounge. (Image: Emily Gilbert)
Readers: Did you ever use the TWA Terminal at JFK? Are you glad it’s being preserved? Do you miss TWA?
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