LaGuardia Gateway Partners (LGP), the private entity operating and redeveloping LaGuardia Airport’s Terminal B, announced that it will open the first seven gates of the Western Concourse of the new state-of-the-art Terminal B on August 5, 2020. With the opening of these seven gates, Terminal B is one step closer to Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s vision of a 21st-century LaGuardia Airport. The project is possible due to the collaborative efforts between the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, private partners and construction workers across New York State who have worked tirelessly to bring this design to life.
The new 218,000-square-foot concourse will open in two phases, to allow the remaining gates in the original terminal to stay operational during construction. In this first phase, seven of 17 gates will open, along with the Gotham News newsstand and a portion of the concourse’s park, featuring greenery and benches. The concourse features plenty of natural light and soaring ceilings up to 55 feet high. Its restrooms are thoughtfully designed, including spacious stalls and above sink shelves to keep belongings dry.
In addition, the Western Concourse features two pieces of New York City-inspired artwork, with one being a sculpture by Romero Britto. The Big Apple is a piece that was gifted from Mr. Britto to American Airlines for display at LaGuardia in 2006. The artist recently restored the piece and it is now back in Terminal B. The sculpture was inspired by his love of New York City and uses vibrant colors to convey happiness and hope.
The second piece is titled A Queens Tribute by Meres One. The artist is Jonathan Cohen, or Meres One for his nom de plume. The piece is a visual postcard from Queens, New York. He tackled the three-letter airport code as a visual dedication to his childhood borough and to the home base of his famed outdoor museum, 5 Pointz. Installed on the wall of Gotham News by shop operator Marshall Retail Group, the piece is designed to be seen from aircraft as they arrive to the gates.
American Airlines will operate in the new Western Concourse and also continue to operate from the original terminal’s D gates while construction continues. Passengers will check in at the brand new state-of-the-art Terminal B Arrivals and Departures Hall, which opened in June of 2020, and connect to the new Western Concourse through a temporary walkway. The final phase of the Western Concourse is scheduled to open by early 2022.
“Today’s opening of the first seven new gates in Terminal B’s Western Concourse is part of 18 months of fast progress as we near the finish line of the complete transformation of LaGuardia Airport,” said Rick Cotton, Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. “Thanks to Governor Cuomo’s vision and leadership, construction of A Whole New LaGuardia Airport continues full speed ahead with this summer’s opening of the new Arrivals and Departures Hall, the early opening of the new concourse and gates, and completion of nearly 75% of all roadway work due to the reduction in traffic.”
“As an equity investor, lead developer, and manager of LaGuardia Gateway Partners, Vantage is proud to celebrate the opening of the Western Concourse, the latest milestone in our shared efforts to revolutionize LaGuardia Terminal B,” said George Casey, Chair and CEO, Vantage Airport Group. “Together with our partners, we are delivering a transformed passenger experience at Terminal B, one that reflects Governor Cuomo’s vision for a new LaGuardia Airport.”
In July 2015, Governor Cuomo unveiled the vision for a comprehensive redevelopment of LaGuardia Airport, which included the new 1.3 million square foot Terminal B. With a construction value of $4B, the Terminal B project is one of the largest public-private partnerships in American history and the largest in US aviation. The Terminal B redevelopment includes a new 35-gate terminal, a parking garage, and a Central Hall, which will unify the airport by connecting to Terminal C, which is also being redeveloped.
