- Distinguished International Panel of Architects, Designers & Creative Professionals Selects LGA’s Terminal B From Among Nominees Across Three Continents
- New World-Class Facility is Recognized for Innovation, Artistic Creativity, Sustainability, Cultural Inclusion and Social Interaction
- Recognition Fulfills Port Authority’s Commitment to Transform LaGuardia from Worst to Best Airport
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is pleased to announce that LaGuardia Airport’s Terminal B has won UNESCO’s 2021 Prix Versailles, the global architecture and design award, for best new airport in the world. This prestigious award fulfills the agency’s promise to transform what was once regarded as the nation’s worst airport into a world-class facility ranking among the best in the nation.
“Almost everyone thought this was impossible. Since beginning construction of a whole new LaGuardia five years ago, we promised an airport that would go from worst to best, taking its place among the world’s finest airports. That’s no longer a promise – it’s an achievement confirmed by a panel of international judges. From cutting-edge architectural design to world-class amenities to inspirational public art alongside state-of-the-art technology, LaGuardia’s Terminal B is leading the transformation of our airports to best in class,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton.
“The Prix Versailles is a testament to the vision and hard work of the Port Authority and our private partners at LaGuardia Gateway Partners. And we’re not done yet. With Delta’s Terminal C at LaGuardia set to open next year, a 21st century world-class Terminal A at Newark also set to open next year, and a nearly $15 billion transformation underway at JFK, we are transforming our airports from back-of-the-pack to world class,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole.
“We’re honored to receive the UNESCO Prix Versailles World Architecture and Design Award,” said Frank Scremin, CEO of LaGuardia Gateway Partners, Terminal B’s developer and manager. “Our vision was to completely elevate and transform the Terminal B experience, incorporating world class public art, sought-after amenities, iconic architecture and state-of the-art technology. We’re proud to be recognized as the best airport by the UNESCO panel of judges and thankful to our partners Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Vantage Airport Group, Skanska, Meridiam, JLC Infrastructure, Skanska-Walsh Joint Venture, HOK and WSP.”
As the recipient of the Prix Versailles, LaGuardia Airport is in lofty company that includes last year’s award winner, Beijing Daxing International Airport.
In announcing this year’s award, UNESCO cited the “qualities of innovation, creativity, reflection of local, natural and cultural heritage, and ecological efficiency, as well as the values of social interaction and participation which the United Nations holds in high regard.”
LaGuardia Airport Terminal B’s selection for the 2021 Prix Versailles for best new airport comes at a time when the new airport continues to make substantial progress and see increased passenger volume, including a new high-water mark for daily passengers since the beginning of the pandemic. On the western side of the airport, the new Terminal B, being developed by LaGuardia Gateway Partners and including design-build lead Skanska-Walsh, opened its four-story, light-filled arrivals and departures hall in 2020. Its latest section of new gates opened earlier this month, bringing the total number of new gates open so far to 30, spread across two concourses connected to the arrivals and departures hall by the world’s first dual-pedestrian skybridges.
On the eastern side, construction of Delta Air Lines’ new Terminal C arrivals and departures hall is rapidly advancing and anticipated to open in Spring 2022. The first new gates of Delta’s terminal on the airport’s far eastern side opened in 2019 with striking views of Flushing Bay. The 1.3-million-square-foot terminal will feature 37 new gates when complete.
The new Terminal B has proven itself in terms of sustainability, having been designated earlier this year as the first airline terminal in the world to achieve LEED v4 Gold Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. The airport’s transformation also reflects the Port Authority’s commitment to diversity, having achieved an historic $2 billion in contracts awarded to Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises.
The annual Prix Versailles awards, created in 2015 to promote the relationship between culture and commerce, recognizes the most remarkable structures, in terms of both interior and exterior architecture, in the categories of Airports, Campuses, Passenger Stations and Sports. Because the Prix is associated with the Palace of Versailles, it aspires for this world-renowned symbol of beauty and elegance to serve not as a model but as a beacon and impetus for quality commercial architecture, today and tomorrow.