A new space has been given a retro makeover while a historic one is racing towards modernization as work continues on the transformation of Eero Saarinen’s iconic TWA Terminal into a luxury hotel and event space.
Just completed is the TWA Lounge, a satellite space for the hotel located on the 86th floor of One World Trade Center. Part gallery, part mock-up, the Lounge space recreates the look and feel of the original terminal down to the smallest detail.
The space centers around a sunken seating area directing views to a functioning Solari departure board and the New York skyline beyond. A penny tile floor wraps up around the backrests of the couches, matching the exact details specified by Saarinen in his original plans. Vintage TWA memorabilia are packed into the space, including everything from TWA branded playing cards to flight attendant uniforms to graphic posters lining the curved walls. Especially notable is a supersized model of the terminal, built by Saarinen himself in 1962.
The lounge space was envisioned to drum up excitement for the upcoming restoration and transformation of the terminal into the new TWA Hotel. Having broken ground last December, foundation work for the two new room-filled wings is now complete, with above ground construction set to begin next week.
A new rendering released with the news shows a fountain-lined approach to the hotel, which will contain 505 rooms. The terminal building will be restored to house the lobby as well as four dining and entertainment spots (including a nightclub). The terminal will also connect to a refurbished Lockheed Super Constellation aircraft, which will be converted into a restaurant and bar.
The TWA Hotel is being designed by Beyer Blinder Belle (restoration) and Lubrano Ciavarra (addition) for MCR Development. Construction timeline estimates a Spring 2019 opening.
See the final photographs of the TWA terminal before its restoration began, here.
