Architects: Eero Saarinen
Year: 1962
Photographs: Eero Saarinen, nyc-architecture.com, Hagen Stier
Manufacturers: Pyrok
City: New York City
Country: United States
The TWA Terminal, designed by Eero Saarinen at JFK International Airport in New York, captures the “spirit of flight” through its sweeping concrete “wings” and seamless, flowing interiors. Completed in 1962 after Saarinen’s death, the terminal’s reinforced concrete shell, steel framework, and angled, purple-tinted glass walls evoke the experience of flight and offer views of aircraft operations. Despite becoming a landmark in 1994, the terminal closed in 2001 due to outdated infrastructure and impractical airline-specific terminal designs. Encircled by JetBlue’s 2008 terminal, it awaits renovation, symbolizing mid-century optimism and architectural ingenuity.
Anyone who has flown through John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York may have encountered or observed Eero Saarinen’s Trans World Flight Center.
Amid the constant activity of a busy airport, the building commands more than a fleeting glance. Commissioned in 1956, Saarinen designed the terminal to embody the “spirit of flight.” As travelers hurry to their flights, the sweeping concrete curves, welcoming passengers into the jet age, are impossible to ignore.
To reflect the concept of flight, Saarinen incorporated curves to craft interconnected spaces. The concrete roof’s exterior resembles a bird in motion, with two expansive “wings.” Inside, a seamless ribbon of design elements transitions fluidly from the exterior, where ceilings blend into walls and walls transition into floors.
Eero Saarinen explained during the building’s construction in 1959: “All the curves, all the spaces and elements, right down to the shape of the signs, display boards, railings, and check-in desks were to be of a matching nature. We wanted passengers passing through the building to experience a fully-designed environment, in which each part arises from another and everything belongs to the same formal world.”
The structure features a reinforced concrete shell divided into four segments radiating outward from a central point. These concrete “wings” extend on either side, evoking the motion of flight. Inside, the concrete is strengthened with an intricate steel web for added support.
The expansive glass panels beneath the concrete are supported by steel and feature a modern purple tint. Angled outward as they meet the ceiling, these glass walls create the impression of gazing from an airplane at the earth below. They also emphasize the terminal’s function by offering clear views of departing and arriving jets.
Saarinen passed away from a brain tumor in 1961, a year before the terminal’s completion. Seven years later, a new departure-arrival concourse and lounge were added, but these changes failed to address the terminal’s gradual financial decline. JFK International Airport’s original plan to dedicate separate terminals to individual airlines proved less practical in operation than in theory, leading to the TWA Terminal’s closure in 2001.
Designated an official landmark by the Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1994, the TWA Terminal gained protected status. In 2005, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey initiated the construction of a new terminal for JetBlue Airways, completed in 2008, which now partially surrounds Saarinen’s iconic structure.
The original structure remains closed to the public, as it has yet to undergo essential renovations to address its aging condition. Proposals for its future include converting it into an aviation museum or a restaurant. Despite these challenges, the TWA Terminal stands as a symbol of American optimism and ambition, representing a milestone in architectural history and a creative fusion of engineering and design.
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Address: Jamaica, Queens, New York City, NY 11432, United States
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