The future of resilient and sustainable air travel: A vision for the New Terminal One at JFK

Credit: Terminal One at JFK

As the New Terminal One at John F. Kennedy International Airport gets ready to open its doors next year, we have developed a vision for an unparalleled travel experience, deeply rooted in resiliency and sustainability. Set to open in 2026, this transformative terminal will redefine what it means to build infrastructure that meets the challenges of today while anticipating the needs of tomorrow.

With cutting-edge design and innovative systems, New Terminal One represents a bold step forward for air travel and environmental stewardship, ensuring that every corner of the terminal reflects our commitment to resilience against climate risks and sustainability for future generations. Here’s how:

Resiliency: a terminal designed to withstand climate extremes

The New Terminal One is being constructed to endure the evolving challenges posed by climate change and extreme weather events. By incorporating forward-thinking design principles and robust infrastructure, New Terminal One is built to remain fully operational, no matter the environmental conditions.

• Extreme heat: Rising global temperatures demand innovative approaches to thermal management. New Terminal One features insulated low-e glass windows and strategically placed sun control devices, which significantly reduce heat gain while maximising natural light. Additionally, the terminal’s roof will boast high-reflectivity coverings that deflect sunlight, lowering cooling demands inside the facility. These measures create a comfortable environment for travellers and employees while reducing the energy footprint during heatwaves.
• Extreme cold: To combat severe cold spells, New Terminal One employs a high-performance building envelope that insulates and minimises heat loss. Exposed utilities outside the building are safeguarded to maintain functionality even in frigid conditions. Inside the terminal, high-efficiency mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) systems, including radiant flooring and heat recapture technology, will ensure warmth and energy efficiency.
• Significant snowfall: New Terminal One’s design accounts for heavy snowfalls with structural snow loading calibrated to long-term weather data. This ensures that the terminal can safely support significant snow accumulation without compromising structural integrity. Dedicated snow accumulation zones on the property facilitate quick clearing operations, keeping the terminal operational regardless of winter storms.
• Strong winds: New York’s location along the Atlantic coast requires resilience in the event of high winds. New Terminal One is designed with structural wind loading capabilities informed by historical weather data. Every element, from the façade to roofing and outdoor infrastructure, is fortified to withstand gusts, ensuring safety and functionality even during storms or hurricanes.
• Heavy rain and flooding: Given the increasing risks of heavy rainfall and coastal flooding, New Terminal One’s resilience extends to water management. The terminal incorporates a Sea Level Rise Design Flood Elevation (SLR DFE), ensuring critical assets and infrastructure are positioned above anticipated flood levels. This proactive design minimises disruption and protects essential operations, even in extreme weather conditions.

Environmental impact: setting a new standard for sustainability

Beyond building for resilience, New Terminal One is committed to minimising its environmental impact through state-of-the-art energy systems, innovative waste management strategies, and effective water conservation practices.

Credit: The New Terminal One at JFK

Energy management

The New Terminal One is setting ambitious goals for waste reduction and management. Aiming for 90% waste diversion from landfills, the terminal has already achieved impressive construction waste diversion rates of 97%. At the heart of New Terminal One’s sustainability efforts is its groundbreaking microgrid infrastructure, developed in partnership with AlphaStruxure, an energy-as-a-service provider. This unique system – incorporating the largest solar array of its kind in New York City – integrates  multiple clean energy sources, including:

• A 63 megawatt solar array on the terminal’s roof, featuring over 13,000 solar panels spanning an area equivalent to almost seven football fields
• 84 megawatts of fuel cells, ensuring reliable, low emission energy generation
• 5 megawatts/3.34 megawatt hours of battery energy storage to optimise energy distribution and enhance resiliency.

This 12 megawatt microgrid reduces reliance on the main power grid while supporting uninterrupted terminal operations. Combined with all-electric ground support equipment and measures to reduce source energy use, New Terminal One is setting a new industry standard on sustainability and reducing our carbon footprint.

Waste management

The New Terminal One is setting ambitious goals for waste reduction and management. Aiming for 90% waste diversion from landfills, the terminal has already achieved impressive construction waste diversion rates of 97%. During operations, New Terminal One will continue to prioritise waste sorting and recycling to maintain these high standards. We are also developing robust requirements to limit the use of single use plastics, as well as for composting. 

Additionally, the terminal targets capturing 60% of available aircraft de-icing fluid during winter operations, with a long-term goal of exceeding 80%. By reusing this fluid, New Terminal One significantly reduces chemical waste and environmental runoff, aligning with sustainable aviation practices.

Water conservation

Water is a precious resource, and the New Terminal One is committed to minimising potable water consumption. The terminal will utilise water conservation valves and equipment to help save water. Our innovative stormwater management system will capture at least 50% of rooftop run-off, reallocating this water for non-potable uses within the terminal including flushing in bathrooms and irrigation of the surrounding landscape. This approach not only conserves drinking water but also reduces strain on local water infrastructure, contributing to a more sustainable water cycle.

Credit: The New Terminal One at JFK

A vision for the future

The New Terminal One at JFK is more than just an airport terminal – it is a model for what modern infrastructure can achieve when resiliency and sustainability take centre stage. By prioritising climate adaptation, reducing environmental impact and embracing innovative technologies, we are creating a space that meets the demands of today while anticipating the challenges of tomorrow.

When travellers step into New Terminal One in 2026, they won’t just be entering a terminal; they’ll be entering a vision of the future – one where air travel is resilient, sustainable and transformative.

About the author

Uzoamaka N. Okoye , Chief of Staff at The New Terminal One at JFK

Uzoamaka N. Okoye is the Chief of Staff at The New Terminal One at JFK. In collaboration with the CEO and the executive leadership team, she drives strategy, planning and organisational development across all areas of the business. She oversees several functions that touch every area of the business, including sustainability, communications, board and company governance.

Uzoamaka brings more than two decades of experience in the construction and development industry, including substantial expertise as a legal adviser on construction and environmental law in the New York metropolitan area. She served for more than a decade at law firms Troutman Sanders (now Troutman Pepper) and Gibbons, prior to acting as Legal Counsel to The New Terminal One’s Project Management Office for four years before being appointed Chief of Staff in 2023.

She began her career as a project engineer in New York, working on water and wastewater infrastructure projects and assisting in the oversight and management of design and construction.

Uzoamaka holds a Juris Doctor degree from Rutgers Law School, a master’s degree in environmental engineering from New York University – Polytechnic School of Engineering and a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry from American University.