Open House New York 1133 Broadway, Suite 802 New York, NY 10010 T 212 991 6470 www.ohny.org  

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Open House New York Announces Eero Saarinen’s Iconic TWA Flight

Center at JFK Airport Will Once Again Be Open to the Public During the

12th Annual OHNY Weekend on Saturday, October 11, 2014

 

 

September 22, 2014 – The TWA Flight Center at JFK Airport, Eero Saarinen’s mid-Century Modern masterpiece and a symbol of the “jet-age” has been a part of OHNY Weekend since 2011 and it has consistently been the Weekend’s most highly visited site. This year, it will be open on Saturday, October 11, from 11:00 am to 3:30 pm. Each year, thousands of OHNY participants have walked through the terminal’s “tubes” to experience for themselves the building that is known as the symbol of the “jet-age.” The terminal, known for its curves that suggest a bird in flight, opened in 1962 and closed in 2001 after TWA ceased operations and the building was rendered obsolete with the advent of larger jets that terminal could not accommodate. The terminal suffered deterioration after being vacant for years, but in recent years has been completely restored by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) and Beyer Blinder Belle Architects and Planners.

 

                                     

Open House New York 1133 Broadway, Suite 802 New York, NY 10010 T 212 991 6470 www.ohny.org  

“It’s no wonder why the TWA Flight Center is one of OHNY Weekend’s most popular sites…it’s a New York City treasure,” says Gregory Wessner, executive director of OHNY. “The work that went into restoring the terminal to Saarinen’s original vision is remarkable, and OHNY is honored to be able to work with the Port Authority to allow the public access each year during the Weekend.” Jim Steven, manager of JFK’s Physical Plant and Redevelopment of the PANYNJ, will be on-site to discuss this historic building and the restoration process. People from all over the world—architectural historians, aviation buffs, photographers, people who experienced the flying out of the terminal during it’s heyday, or got a glimpse of the terminal in the film “Catch Me If You Can,” and still others who have just passed by the closed building and want to see what’s inside the building that suggests flight itself—visit the terminal each year during OHNY Weekend. It has become a tradition for pilots, flight attendants, and customer service employees that used to work for TWA and other airlines when terminal was operational to come dressed in their old uniforms.  About Open House New York  Through its year-round programs and the Annual OHNY Weekend, Open House New York provides broad audiences with unparalleled access to the buildings, infrastructure, and public spaces of New York City. OHNY celebrates the best examples of design and planning throughout the five boroughs, from historic to contemporary, and helps catalyze a conversation about the city's future to sustain New York as a vibrant place to live, work, and learn. Follow us online via Facebook or Twitter.    Support  Public support for OHNY’s programs is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts; the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature; the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the New York City Council; and the Office of the Manhattan Borough President. Photos of the TWA Flight Terminal at JFK are by Nicolas Lemery Nantel.