LaGuardia Gateway Partners announced that another milestone has been completed in the $4 billion redevelopment of Terminal B at LaGuardia Airport.
The first seven of 17 gates will open in the brand new Western Concourse on Aug. 5, welcoming more travelers with a world-class passenger experience, following the opening of the new Arrivals and Departure Hall in June, with new concessions, traveler amenities, world-class art installations, and increased space for passengers to move more safely during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
“With the opening of this new concourse, LaGuardia Airport’s Terminal B is hitting two major milestones in one summer and moving closer to its full transformation into a 21st-century travel facility,” Governor Andrew Cuomo said. “LaGuardia Airport is going to be the first new airport in the United States in 25 years, and we’re building it while still operating the old airport. Travelers coming to New York should expect nothing less than a world-class experience, and that is what we are delivering with this modernization project.”
Like the Eastern Concourse, which opened in December 2018, the Western Concourse features soaring 55-foot high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows that allow for ample natural lighting. Amenities will include a children’s play area, a green space with landscaping and seating, spacious restrooms, family and nursing restrooms, a designated American Airlines service desk, and a pet relief area.
“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 Airports,” Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Executive Director Rick Cotton said. “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 early 75% of all roadway work due to the reduction in traffic.”
The Port Authority is working with elected officials, stakeholders and Queens residents to ensure MWBEs and job seekers take advantage of new opportunities as part of the redevelopment and economic growth. Since the beginning of the project, more than $560 million in contracts was awarded to Queens-based businesses.
“This new concourse will increase our borough’s global competitiveness by offering travelers a welcoming airport experience filled with all the amenities that the world’s airline passengers have come to expect,” Acting Queens Borough President Sharon Lee said. “Queens commends Governor Cuomo for his commitment to this visionary $8 billion redevelopment of LaGuardia, a project that has already benefited our borough by creating jobs, scholarships and STEM programs for the local community. This ahead-of-schedule opening of the Western Concourse is another milestone in the creation of a first-class LaGuardia Airport.
The Western Concourse features two New York City-inspired artwork. including a piece titled “A Queens Tribute by Meres One,” a mural created by Jonathan Cohen, the curator of the world-famous 5Pointz graffiti mecca. The piece is a visual postcard from Queens using the three-letter airport code as the dedication to his childhood borough and the piece can be seen from aircraft as they arrive at the gate.
“Super excited to finally see the LGA letters done and installed in the new Terminal B,” Meres posted on social media.
“Here is the letter G which shows some of the things I grew up admiring in Queens from the Silvercup Studios sign, the 7 train and the 5Pointz outdoor aerosol arts museum which I founded and curated from 2002 to 2013.”
The warehouse complex in Long Island City was whitewashed and demolished by developer Jerry Wolkoff to make way for two residential towers which are nearly complete.
