Portland worked with Munich Airport International (MAl) on the commercial
vision and development of Terminal A at Newark Liberty International Airport
(EWR). This follows an agreement reached in 2019 with The Port Authority
of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), for MAI to operate and maintain the
terminal.
A key objective of the design brief was to create a strong and unique sense of
place for New Jersey that would differentiate it from neighbouring New York.
Lewis Allen, Senior Director at Portland comments: “after exploring and
researching the history and culture of New Jersey, we were surprised to
discover that New Jersey is a ‘State of Firsts’, for example it was the first state
to have a sea container port, the first organised baseball match was in New
Jersey and it was the first state to have a drive-in movie theatre and the list
goes on, so this became one of the key drivers of the design strategy and
vision which underpinned the commercial proposition that Newark Airport is a
Journey of Surprises”.
Lewis continues: “this vision ran through MAI’s commercial tender process
and set the tenor of the relationship between retailers and brands looking to
take space in the airport. Our design has enabled ‘A Journey of Surprises’ to
show up through key interventions and experiences throughout the customer
journey.
A kerbside to gate lounge passenger journey delights travellers with these
unexpected, yet authentic New Jersey moments. Passengers are welcomed to
the terminal with a series of bold art installations, in both analogue and digital
formats, which celebrate local talent and creativity.
At the heart of the terminal is a commercial plaza with a wide variety of local ‘hero’
vendors, and locally inspired international brands. Through menus, product provenance,
visual references and much more, the New Jersey story is embedded into the DNA of
each concept.
Unique New Jersey-inspired Children’s Play areas are situated along the three piers, each
taking on a recognisable local theme of ‘Sports’, ‘Music & Arts’ and ‘Technology’. These
creatively playful spaces celebrate famous [‘NJ Hall of Fame’-ers] such as Carl Lewis,
Bruce Springsteen and Thomas Edison.
At the end of the journey, passenger hold rooms are informed by the widely contrasting
themes of New Jersey terrains and vibes, from the laid-back ambience of the beach
boardwalks, to the rural remoteness of the Pine Barrens, to the buzz and energy of
Atlantic city. Bespoke furniture typologies such as the ‘People watcher’, ‘Community
bench’ and ‘Perching pebbles’, further immerse passengers into these vibes, with some
elements responsive to seasonal change.
Once completed, the new terminal will be a modern, state-of-the art facility and will
replace the existing Terminal A, which has outlived its useful time. The new terminal has
a design capacity for approximately 14 million passengers annually and 33 common-use
gates, providing generous space for a smooth journey through the building from kerbside
through check-in, security, gate hold rooms, and baggage claim.
