Rendering of the JFK Terminal 6 Arrivals Corridor
(QUEENS, NY) -- /PRNewswire/ -- The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and JFK Millennium Partners (JMP), the company selected to build and operate the $4.2 billion Terminal 6 (T6) at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), announced a landmark collaboration with four premier New York City cultural institutions — the American Museum of Natural History, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Museum of Modern Art — that will transform the new terminal's international arrivals corridor into a distinctly New York arts district within the airport.
The permanent arts and culture showcase will welcome millions of travelers each year with a curated experience reflecting the creative spirit of New York Citythrough its world-renowned cultural institutions.
The initiative supports the Port Authority's vision to create a world-class passenger experience at JFK, as it has done at the award-winning, internationally recognized terminals at the new LaGuardia Airport and the new Terminal A at Newark Liberty International Airport, through inspirational public art and local concessions to create a unique sense of place, operational excellence, 21st century technology and world-class functionality.
The overall JFK T6 art program, of which the cultural collaboration is just one component, ranges from sculptural installations to immersive visual art. The terminal's dedicated art collection aims to capture the diversity, energy, and identity of New York City while creating moments of connection and inspiration for travelers. The effort is led by architect Stanis Smith in collaboration with JMP and will also include 19 major site-specific permanent installations curated by Public Art Fund and rotating local artworks curated by Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning. The artworks will be unveiled in 2026, when the first phase of T6 is expected to open.
The new Terminal 6 is a key component of the Port Authority's $19 billion transformation of JFK into a world-class gateway, with two new terminals, two expanded and modernized terminals, a new ground transportation center, and an entirely new and simplified roadway network.
"Thanks to the collaboration with four of New York's premier cultural institutions, Terminal 6 will offer arriving visitors from around the world a unique New York experience before they leave the terminal," said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton. "Along with an extraordinary public art program, state-of-the-art architecture, cutting edge technology and iconic, locally inspired dining and shopping, we are creating a world-class passenger experience at Terminal 6 that will be among the best in the world."
"For a region that is renowned for its museums and performing arts centers, it is more than fitting that visitors arriving at Terminal 6 will be greeted by vibrant displays from four of our most popular cultural institutions," said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O'Toole. "Just as we've done at Newark Liberty International Airport's Terminal A and at LaGuardia Airport, stunning public art and inspiring cultural icons will elevate our new terminals at JFK International into destinations in themselves."
"We're honored to collaborate with such prestigious institutions — icons in the global arts community and deeply rooted in the spirit of New York City," said Steve Thody, CEO, JFK Millennium Partners. "Each installation will reflect and celebrate the vibrant cultural heartbeat of New York as we welcome the world to JFK and beyond."
Lincoln Center's contribution is a 140-foot mural — a vibrant visual symphony that captures the energy, artistry, and dynamism of the performing arts on the iconic campus. The mural will weave together scenes from across Lincoln Center's campus, showcasing artists from music, theater, dance, and opera. Set against the backdrop of Lincoln Center's architecture, inside its legendary venues, and on the streets of New York, the piece offers international travelers a striking first impression: a celebration of the city as a global stage where culture, creativity, and community converge. Details on the unprecedented collaboration across the Lincoln Center campus will be announced in the coming months.
As a champion of contemporary art and a creative cornerstone of New York City, MoMA is joining forces with visionary artist Yoko Onoto deliver a special installation. This new project, inspired by Ono's work PEACE is POWER commissioned by MoMA in 2019, will invite travelers to engage with the depth and urgency of her voice.
The American Museum of Natural History will present a lively tapestry of images from its halls, from familiar faces like the museum's Tyrannosaurus rex specimen and Rapa Nui figure, to storied exhibitions such as the Hall of North American Mammals and new destinations like the Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation. This dynamic installation represents the museum's research divisions and scientific collections.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art's installation celebrates its mission to present 5,000 years of art from around the world. Images of objects from each of the museum's 17 curatorial collections — from The Cloisters' beloved medieval Unicorn Tapestry to the Costume Institute's Dior bar suit — will welcome travelers. The colorful and energizing display will evoke New York's status as the cultural capital of the world, and the museum's role as a New York City institution and cultural destination.
Transforming JFK Into a World-Class Global Gateway
In January 2017, the JFK Vision Plan was announced to transform JFK into the world-class airport that New Yorkers deserve. The vision plan provides a strategic framework for the Port Authority and its partners to completely redevelop, modify and expand existing facilities and infrastructure. The $9.5 billion new Terminal One broke ground in September 2022. A new $4.2 billion Terminal 6, which will connect seamlessly with Terminal 5 to create an anchor terminal on the airport's north side, broke ground in February 2023. The $1.5 billion expansion of Terminal 4, led by Delta Air Lines and JFK International Air Terminal (JFKIAT), is substantially complete. Additionally, the $400 million expansion of Terminal 8, led by American Airlines, which operates the terminal, was completed in November 2022.
All of the privately financed terminal projects combined with the Port Authority's roadway, parking and infrastructure projects represent a $19 billion transformation of JFK and an extraordinary series of public-private partnerships. The Port Authority's capital investment of $3.9 billion is leveraging private investment at a rate of nearly four to one when taking into account the full private investment of more than $15 billion that has been committed to the four projects comprising the full redevelopment of JFK.
Currently under construction, JFK's T6 is being developed in two phases, with the first six gates opening in 2026 and construction completion expected by 2028. Over a dozen domestic and international airlines will operate from the new terminal, including ANA, Avianca, Cathay Pacific, JetBlue, Lufthansa and SWISS. The new terminal will include:
* 10 gates, of which nine will accommodate widebody aircraft
* State-of-the-art automated baggage system, customs/border control facilities, and the latest TSA screening technologies
* One of the longest departures curbs at JFK, with airline-branded passenger drop-off zones
* Multiple airline lounges, in addition to a new arrivals lounge
* A new ground transportation center
* A curated collection of New York City-inspired permanent artwork featuring local and international artists, curated by Public Art Fund and programmed by Stanis Smith in partnership with JMP and the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey
* Sustainably sourced building materials, rooftop solar power, and energy efficient systems and operating practices throughout the terminal
* Sustainability certifications for LEED (silver or gold), Envision and SITES currently underway
Terminal 6 is an award-winning public-private partnership between the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and JFK Millennium Partners — a consortium that is led by Vantage Group, an industry leading investor, developer and manager of award-winning global airport projects, including LaGuardia Airport's Terminal B; American Triple I, a certified minority-owned investor, owner, developer and manager of infrastructure assets; RXR, an innovative New York real estate investor and developer; and JetBlue Airways, New York'shometown airline. When complete, Terminal 6 will connect seamlessly with Terminal 5 to create an anchor terminal on JFK International Airport's north side.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is a bi-state agency that builds, operates, and maintains many of the most important transportation and trade infrastructure assets in the country. For over a century, the agency's network of major airports; critical bridges, tunnels and bus terminals; a commuter rail line; and the busiest seaport on the East Coast has been among the most vital in the country – transporting hundreds of millions of people and moving essential goods into and out of the region. The Port Authority also owns and manages the 16-acre World Trade Center campus, which today welcomes tens of thousands of office workers and millions of annual visitors. The agency's historic $37 billion 10-year capital plan includes unprecedented transformation of the region's three major airports – LaGuardia, Newark Liberty and JFK – as well as an array of other new and upgraded assets, including the $2 billion renovation of the 93-year-old George Washington Bridge. The Port Authority's annual budget of $9.4 billion includes no tax revenue from either the states of New York or New Jersey or from the city of New York. The agency raises the necessary funds for the improvement, construction or acquisition of its facilities primarily on its own credit.
