Case Study: JFK Airport achieves a world-class, sustainable terminal experience with Gensler

JFK Airport builds New Terminal One with Gensler: 2.6 million square feet, 23 gates

JFK Airport required a major modernization to handle increasing passenger traffic and transform into a world-class, sustainable gateway. The challenge was to build a massive new terminal that would meet high environmental standards, boost the regional economy, and continue construction while the airport remained fully operational. The vendor Gensler, along with AECOM, was enlisted to design the solution.

Gensler's design for the New Terminal One is a 2.6 million-square-foot facility featuring 23 new gates, expansive skylights, and 300,000 square feet of retail and recreation space. Sustainable strategies like solar panels and rainwater catchment support its LEED Silver certification. The project, entirely privately funded at $9.5 billion, is one of the largest in Gensler's history and is expected to create over 10,000 jobs for the local community, establishing a best-in-class model for future airport design.