Public-Private Partnership (P3) development for airports in the United States is just starting to be explored, but WSP is at the forefront as one of the original founders of part of LaGuardia Gateway Partners, the team designing and building the new Central Terminal Building at LaGuardia Airport in New York City. The $3.6 billion terminal is the P3 currently being undertaken in the U.S. The private sector will contribute more than $2 billion and the Port Authority contributing more than $1 billion to construct the new terminal and supporting infrastructure.
LaGuardia Gateway Partners was selected for the project by the Board of Commissioners of The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Partner firms include WSP and HOK as the design joint venture; Skanska and Meridiam for development and equity investment; Skanska and Walsh Construction as the construction joint venture; and Vantage Airport Group for management of the operations.
Originally constructed in 1964, LaGuardia made national headlines in 2014 when compared to being in “some third world country” given its condition of disrepair. Major improvements were necessary to reshape the passenger experience. The major rehabilitation project will create a new central entry portal to the airport, unify previously unconnected terminals, and serve approximately 50 percent of the passenger volume of the airport. With a capacity to serve 17 million passengers a year, the new terminal will accommodate growing passenger volumes with modern baggage and check-in systems, a retail hall with dining space, a hotel, and a conference and business center. The new terminal will use bridges from the headhouse to the bright, open concourses that will give passengers a bird’s-eye view of the airside operations and the concourses.
Other amenities will include transportation features such as a ferry service and a people mover to help passengers traverse the entire airport. When completed, LaGuardia will provide New York City with a world-class facility that brings a higher level of operation for passengers, both during construction and throughout long-term operations.
The first concourse is anticipated to open to the public at the end of 2018, with the main terminal building, security, retail, baggage opening in 2020. Full completion of the project is expected in 2022. WSP is serving as the Engineer of Record through the completion of construction.
Tina Millan
Senior Vice President
National Director of Aviation Services
WSP USA
