LaGuardia celebrates completion of construction of Terminal B

LaGuardia Gateway Partners (LGP), the private entity managing and redeveloping LaGuardia Airport’s Terminal B, has announced that the last remaining elements of the new terminal have opened.

New York governor, Kathy Hochul, and other dignitaries celebrated the completion of construction of the terminal passenger facility in January, and as part of the LGP’s innovative project phasing, the two final gates and remainder of the taxiway were the last pieces to become operational, following the demolition of the old Central Terminal Building (CTB).

“The activation of the final two gates at LaGuardia Airport’s new Terminal B is the final capstone for a magnificent and award-winning new terminal that is providing passengers with a world-class experience from curb to gate,” said Rick Cotton, executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Holding a 35-year lease, LGP will continue to manage the new 1.3 million-square-foot terminal that was designed with operational efficiency in mind.

Terminal B features soaring ceilings, walls of windows, a state-of-the-art security checkpoint, outposts of beloved city restaurants, art from world-renowned artists, 35 gates, a 3,100-car parking garage, and new covered, convenient pickup facilities for both taxis and ride-sharing vehicles.

This terminal is only half of the $8 billion redevelopment of the entire LaGuardia Airport (LGA). With a construction value of $4 billion, the Terminal B project is one of the largest public-private partnerships the United States has seen and one of the largest in American aviation history.

While the new Terminal B was being built, the original Central Terminal Building (CTB) remained operational throughout the entire construction process through an innovative construction phasing plan, which included building over top of the old facility while it remained operational.

The last of the 1960s-era CTB was torn down in early 2022 to make way for active aircraft taxiways under the new terminal’s skybridges. The design of the dual skybridges – and the only such feature at any of the world’s airports – allowed for the addition of two extra miles of taxiway space for the busy airport and more efficient operations. 

The new Terminal B has been internationally recognised with UNESCO’s Prix Versailles, Airports, as the best new airport in the world in 2021. 

In its entirety, the Terminal B redevelopment project took over 17 million hours of work and 40,000 tons of steel; the Arrivals & Departures Hall alone was constructed with 12,000 tons of steel – more than the Eiffel Tower.

According to LGP, Terminal B was built with sustainability in mind utilising energy efficiency, water conservation, waste reduction, and material selection strategies.

More than 90% of the construction and demolition waste – 69,000 tons – was diverted from landfills, and in fact, Terminal B received LEED v4 Gold certification, the highest distinction awarded by the US Green Buildings Council.

Over 300 talented Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBE) worked on the project, with contracts valued at more than $910 million.

“Spacious interiors, floor-to-ceiling windows, inspiring public art, and iconic restaurants and shops all combine to meet the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s new standard in airports: best-in-class facilities worthy of the region.” 

 Stewart Steeves, CEO of Vantage Airport Group and chairman of the Board of Directors of LGP noted: “With the opening of the last few gates and additional taxiway, we’re so proud to have reached this final milestone in the transformation of LaGuardia Terminal B.

“This is a monumental achievement and a testament to the dedication and expertise of every member of the Vantage and LGP teams, and our many partners, which transformed Terminal B to provide the best possible guest experience for visitors and residents of New York City.”