New life restored to iconic mid-century masterpiece

Thousands of VIPs and community leaders gathered at the ceremony to celebrate the meticulous restoration of Eero Saarinen’s landmark 1962 former Trans World Airlines terminal, which has been given new life as the centrepiece and arrival point for the TWA Hotel at JFK Airport in New York. Defined by soaring concrete structures, the striking forms of the Flight Center were brought back to their original glamour by Beyer Blinder Belle with MCR and MORSE Development, using as-built record drawings dating from 1964. 

The TWA Hotel, created by Lubrano Ciavarra with interior design by Stonehill Taylor, contains 512 rooms in two wings flanking the Flight Center. The rooms evoke a mid-century modern design with walnut accented walls, Saarinen-designed womb chairs and tulip tables, and a period martini bar. The Flight Center serves as the TWA hotel lobby, containing check-in functions and conference facilities. The original departure-arrival passenger tubes were restored to act as connectors to the hotel, with further improvements including the removal of non-original elements of the building, upgrades to the roof and the restoration of the sunken lounge and ambassador club. 

Interior design for the conference facilities was provided by INC, remaining sympathetic to Saarinen’s original intent. Materials were painstakingly sourced for reproduction from around the world, in some cases drawn from sample boards housed in the Saarinen Archive at Yale University. Attention to detail was essential to maintain the jetage atmosphere, resulting in a reproduction of the split-flap flight arrival and departure signage, carpeting and upholstery recreated in the signature chili-pepper red and a redesigned conveyor belt to handle checked luggage. 

Reinvigorating the Flight Center provides a unique opportunity to increase public appreciation of mid-century design. Cultural experiences include a fully restored 1958 Lockheed Constellation airplane - one of only four still in existence - parked on the tarmac between the two flight tubes, where it serves as a lounge. A collection of aviation and architectural artefacts, curated by the New York Historical Society, celebrates the history of the airport and its design. “Eero Saarinen’s cathedral to aviation has always looked toward the future,” said Tyler Morse, CEO and managing partner of MCR and MORSE Development. “We have restored and reimagined his landmark with the same care that he devoted to his design."

Lucy Nordberg
TenderStream Head of Research

This tender was first published by TenderStream on 14.08.2014 here

Start your free trial here or email our team directly at customerservices@tenderstream.com