A Whole New LaGuardia Terminal B Redevelopment

Photo Credit: PANYNJ

Originally built in the 1960s, LaGuardia Airport (LGA) had long been regarded as the nation’s worst airport, emblematic of America’s declining infrastructure. In 2016, the Port Authority of NY&NJ (PA) embarked on a major redevelopment program to position LGA as a world-class destination that is internationally recognized and meets the needs of the 21st century.

This $5.1 billion (TPC) program top-to-bottom transformation (including $4.2 billion in design and construction) was led by the PA through one of the largest public-private partnerships (P3) in American history with LaGuardia Gateway Partners. Scope includes a new parking garage, 8 miles of new roadways, a 903,000 sq. ft. Arrivals and Departures Hall featuring significant public art installations, two elevated pedestrian skybridges leading customers to two island concourses holding a total of 35 contact gates.

Embracing Design-Build Efficiencies

The Port Authority of NY&NJ chooses Design-Build with increased frequency for executing critical projects in its Capital Plan, in large part due to its proven advantages over other delivery methods. Design-Build stimulates optimal solutions to both design approach and method of construction; it encourages rapid delivery; and it equitably transfers risk from the Owner to other project stakeholders. Successful Design-Build fosters close collaboration between Owner, designers and constructors, which stimulates development of world-class design, delivered with maximal efficiency.

In the case of LGA Terminal B, the design-build approach replaced an earlier design-bid-build concept, effectively reducing overall program schedule by two years (20%), with direct correlation to total project cost savings. In its best application, design-build knocks down project silos, allowing for free transfer of ideas and collaborative resolution to unforeseen problems that emerge over a project timeline.

Design-Build Team

Photos