The work of 29 local artists is represented in Terminal A, as well as a series of permanent, large-scale multimedia installations that interactively walk travelers through the state's landmarks, art and innovations.
Started from the bottom, now we’re here: The largest design-build project in New Jersey history is Newark Liberty International Airport’s New Terminal A, which cost $2.7 billion and opened to the public on Jan. 12, 2023. Once considered one of the worst airports around (a 2022 poll of the country’s largest airports by The Wall Street Journal ranked Newark dead last), New Jersey’s international airport is starting to repair its reputation with a reimagined Terminal A.
The Port Authority directed the massive project, which includes the 1 million-square-foot terminal hosting 33 airline gates among other improvements, such as redesigned roadways, eight new bridges and a 2,700-space public parking facility. But among the many enhancements is one that is personal to locals: Terminal A finally screams “You are in New Jersey.”
As New Jerseyans, we already share major league sports teams and the Statue of Liberty with neighbor New York — just to name a few things —so having our airport stand apart from nearby JFK and LaGuardia is a big deal for visitors’ first impressions. In a speech given by Gov. Phil Murphy at the inauguration of Terminal A, he said, “This building and the experience of this building will literally transform what people think and how they think of New Jersey. It’s a game changer.”
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1390939488/1685990646/articles/APKzDFdZz1686834146909/1868656577.jpg]
What’s so different? Replacing once-generic eateries are N.J.-based brands such as Jersey Mike’s, Playa Bowls and Jersey & Co. Gelato of Jersey City, among more than 60 concessions. A rainbow of murals cover the walls depicting the Garden State’s history and its colorful residents. The work of 29 local artists is represented in Terminal A, as well as a series of permanent, large-scale multimedia installations that interactively walk travelers through the state’s landmarks, art and innovations.
According to the latest U.S. census, 48.2% of Newark’s residents are Black. Representation of Black-owned businesses is an important component of Terminal A, with shops like BOLD (Black Owned Local Designs) Newark and The Black Home featured at the center of the terminal and run by women of color. Tonnie’s Minis is a Black-owned pastry shop, where hungry travelers can find creative cupcakes and other miniature sweets on the go — with plantbased menu items coming soon.
Even the bathrooms represent the state well. Maps and landscapes from the Jersey Shore to the forests and city streets are plastered across the walls.
We interviewed Keith Gibson, a traveler who flew out of Terminal A on its opening day to attend a friend’s bachelor party in Phoenix. “There is plenty of Jersey, thematically — even the gift shops sell Jersey clothing,” Gibson told us. “I’m just happy to not have to deal with the old (Terminal) A; hopefully B gets the same treatment in the future.”
Gibson is not alone in his sentiment about the previous Terminal A experience. Even Gov. Murphy has been quoted as saying that the former terminal was “woefully out of date; a trying, occasionally painful, and often exhausting place” to navigate.
Part of the problem was that when it was built in 1973, Terminal A was designed to accommodate 9 million flyers annually. Reflecting the increase in air travel over the last 50 years, the new Terminal A can accommodate more than 13 million flyers each year — a nearly 50% increase in capacity.
Other amenities aimed to improve the quality of the terminal experience include workstations with ample outlets, an interactive children’s play area, and a 60% increase in seating capacity within the gates area.
“It’s definitely the best of the EWR (Newark’s airport code) terminals now,” Gibson said. “There i...
Started from the bottom, now we’re here: The largest design-build project in New Jersey history is Newark Liberty International Airport’s New Terminal A, which cost $2.7 billion and opened to the public on Jan. 12, 2023. Once considered one of the worst airports around (a 2022 poll of the country’s largest airports by The Wall Street Journal ranked Newark dead last), New Jersey’s international airport is starting to repair its reputation with a reimagined Terminal A.
The Port Authority directed the massive project, which includes the 1 million-square-foot terminal hosting 33 airline gates among other improvements, such as redesigned roadways, eight new bridges and a 2,700-space public parking facility. But among the many enhancements is one that is personal to locals: Terminal A finally screams “You are in New Jersey.”
As New Jerseyans, we already share major league sports teams and the Statue of Liberty with neighbor New York — just to name a few things —so having our airport stand apart from nearby JFK and LaGuardia is a big deal for visitors’ first impressions. In a speech given by Gov. Phil Murphy at the inauguration of Terminal A, he said, “This building and the experience of this building will literally transform what people think and how they think of New Jersey. It’s a game changer.”
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1390939488/1685990646/articles/APKzDFdZz1686834146909/1868656577.jpg]
What’s so different? Replacing once-generic eateries are N.J.-based brands such as Jersey Mike’s, Playa Bowls and Jersey & Co. Gelato of Jersey City, among more than 60 concessions. A rainbow of murals cover the walls depicting the Garden State’s history and its colorful residents. The work of 29 local artists is represented in Terminal A, as well as a series of permanent, large-scale multimedia installations that interactively walk travelers through the state’s landmarks, art and innovations.
According to the latest U.S. census, 48.2% of Newark’s residents are Black. Representation of Black-owned businesses is an important component of Terminal A, with shops like BOLD (Black Owned Local Designs) Newark and The Black Home featured at the center of the terminal and run by women of color. Tonnie’s Minis is a Black-owned pastry shop, where hungry travelers can find creative cupcakes and other miniature sweets on the go — with plantbased menu items coming soon.
Even the bathrooms represent the state well. Maps and landscapes from the Jersey Shore to the forests and city streets are plastered across the walls.
We interviewed Keith Gibson, a traveler who flew out of Terminal A on its opening day to attend a friend’s bachelor party in Phoenix. “There is plenty of Jersey, thematically — even the gift shops sell Jersey clothing,” Gibson told us. “I’m just happy to not have to deal with the old (Terminal) A; hopefully B gets the same treatment in the future.”
Gibson is not alone in his sentiment about the previous Terminal A experience. Even Gov. Murphy has been quoted as saying that the former terminal was “woefully out of date; a trying, occasionally painful, and often exhausting place” to navigate.
Part of the problem was that when it was built in 1973, Terminal A was designed to accommodate 9 million flyers annually. Reflecting the increase in air travel over the last 50 years, the new Terminal A can accommodate more than 13 million flyers each year — a nearly 50% increase in capacity.
Other amenities aimed to improve the quality of the terminal experience include workstations with ample outlets, an interactive children’s play area, and a 60% increase in seating capacity within the gates area.
“It’s definitely the best of the EWR (Newark’s airport code) terminals now,” Gibson said. “There i...
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Jersey's Best (Digital) - 1 Issue, Summer 2023