The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has issued a request for information (RFI) for the design and development of JFK Central, an approximately 14-acre, mixed-use space at the epicenter of the redeveloped John F. Kennedy International Airport.
The new site offers a blank canvas to create a centrally located commercial and recreational public space.
“Airports are the front door to New York which is why it is so important that we transform JFK Airport into an innovative, modern, and accommodating space for domestic and international travelers,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement. “We are moving ahead with a $13 billion transformation plan that will fundamentally reimagine the airport for the 21st century and as part of that effort JFK Central will create a more unified airport and further solidify New York’s position as the premier entry point into our country for the rest of the world.”
The release of the RFI is the latest step in Cuomo’s sweeping $13 billion vision plan for the future of JFK. The record investment calls for a unified and interconnected airport featuring two new international terminals with state-of-the-art passenger amenities, ground transportation options, and vastly simplified roadways that will enable the airport to accommodate an expected increase of at least 15 million passengers per year.
The RFI will seek input from firms that specialize in designing, developing, and operating multi-use commercial developments or large-scale public spaces.
Modern airports around the world, including those in Amsterdam, Zurich, and Singapore, will serve as examples for the project, as those facilities have successfully built and maintained mixed-use spaces that serve airport communities in similar ways to the proposed JFK Central infrastructure.
Potential uses at JFK Central include, but are not limited to: retail and dining, including pop-ups and food trucks; office space; and recreational and cultural offerings and events for airport passengers and employees.
Built on top of the brand-new Ground Transportation Center, JFK Central would be a highly visible public space located in the middle of the JFK airport, accessible from the new Terminal 1 and Terminal 4 in the southern half of the Central Terminal Area and serving all airport passengers and employees.
Respondents are encouraged to submit ideas and concepts for the commercial component, the public space component, or both.
The ROI can be found here.
