Save Terminal 3

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Hello Everyone:

Worldport Terminal
hyperallergic.com

Hot on the heels of yesterday's post, The Annual 11 Endangered Historic Places List,"  I'd like to focus today on place that's on the list, Worldport Terminal at JFK Airport in New York, a.k.a Terminal Three.  Terminal Three is an iconic symbol of the glamour of mid-century jet travel.  When flying used to be actually fun and exciting not something akin to root canal surgery.  The terminal was opened in 1960 and has been featured in several Hollywood productions.  The first commercial flights of the then first "modern" jetliner, the Boeing 707 took off from the terminal.  On May 24, 2013, Delta airlines ended operations at Terminal Three and there are plans to demolish it.  Alternatives have been suggested such as demolishing the south concourse instead and using the facility as a connection between Terminals Two and Four.  Another suggestion is to use it as a premier terminal or as an independent building open to the public containing a museum, retail and commercial space, aircraft observation space, or employee daycare. (http://www.preservationnation.org/issues/11-most-endangered/locations/worldport-terminal.html#.UcOlaMu9KK0)  However, there is hope.  A group called Save the Worldport (http://www.savetheworldport.org) is on a mission to preserve this landmark to the glamorous jet set.

World Port Interior
hyperallergic.com

Save the Worldport's Mission seeks to save the original Flying Saucer terminal with the goal of responsibly restoring it, re-purposing it, and continue operations at the building for revenue generating, charitable, or public uses.  The group has put forth several proposals to Delta Air Lines and the Port Authority of NY/NJ such as :

1) Save the historic original flying saucer building but demolish the 1973 south concourse and use the building as a premier terminal for a specific route i.e. JFK to LAX or as a regional terminal
2)  Save the historic original flying saucer building but 1973 demolish the south concourse and re-purpose it for non-passenger use such as retail-commercial or employee facilities
3) Save the historic original flying saucer building including the south concourse but demolish Terminal Two and use the land for an aircraft parking lot.
4) Save the historic original flying saucer building but demolish the 1973 south concourse and Terminal Two; build a brand new and modern terminal behind the saucer in a similar manner as JetBlue built its Terminal Five behind the former TWA Flight Center.
5) Save the Worldport's original proposal was Terminal Three serve as a connector between Terminals Two and Four but Delta scrapped the plan in favor of using shuttle buses.
6) Any combination of the above or any other ideas.

These all sound reasonable.

Worldport aircraft boarding
airliners.net

This sanctuary to the jet-age was designed by team of Tippetts-Abbett-McCarthy-Stratton, known mainly for their engineering work, with associated architects Ives, Turano & and Gardner.  The building was christened Worldport by Pan American Air Lines and carries the ignominious name Terminal Three.  Worldport was among nine of the most striking airline terminals built about the same time at Kennedy Airport, the TWA Terminal, designed by Eero Saarinen, comes to mind.  Pan Am's terminal is known for its sprawling elliptical canopy, four acre roof areas which cantilevers 110 feet over the aircraft boarding area.  This was contemporary with the roll out of jetways.  Pan Am opted for simpler boarding bridges that took passengers outside but sheltered them under the huge overhang.  This transitional point was never replicated anywhere.  When Pan Am ceased operations in 1991, Delta Air Lines took over the terminal.  By this time, the structure had been extended further out toward the field with an architecturally unimaginative wing much larger than the original portion and the canopied structure was considerably altered to serve changes in use.

TWA Terminal
archdaily.com

From the beginning, Worldport was a bit overshadowed by Eero Saarinen's bird-in-flight TWA Terminal.  TWA was a rival US carrier then flying glamorous overseas routes.  Fortunately, this temple to the jet-age was thoroughly restored for proposed operation by a hotel chain.  Unfortunately, there are plans to demolish Pan Am's ode to flight.  In 2010 Delta and Port Authority, which operates JFK, announced that the airline would be housed in a new $1.2 billion wing of Terminal Four and the area now occupied by Terminal Three would be needed for related aircraft movement and parking.  In other words, turn it into an aircraft parking lot.  This where grassroots organizers interested in air travel history come in.

Aerial View of JFK
archpaper.net

This group of acquaintances organized Save the Worldport and began a dogged effort to save the structure.  Their campaign has mainly been conducted via the social media with some support from the established preservation organizations.  They have tried to persuade those responsible to preserve the original portion of the building not the clumsy 1973 south concourse.  Since an enclosed pedestrian walkway to link Terminals Two and Four is already in the works, Save the Worldport argues that the preserved "saucer" structure at a focal point in the passage, could be adapted for highly desirable amenities such as retail and restaurant space.  If you go to their website, you can find an online petition.  SIGN IT.

In applying for a National Register of Historic Places listing, the group discovered that the New Yorks State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO pronounced Shippo) issued a negative opinion in 2001 in response to a Port Authority inquiry.  The SHPO determined that Worldport was ineligible because of substantial alterations that resulted in the original fabric, association, or feeling.  This year Save the Worldport is challenging the reasoning behind the decision.  The organization submitted a new nomination application, asking the state to overturn its 2001 finding on National Register eligibility.  Save the Worldport has present statements at Port Authority's monthly public meetings and will continue to do so.  On May 15, some the campaign leaders took part in a telephone "debriefing" with state officials, making their position clear.  In the meantime, they've been able to successfully draw attention to their campaign through their website., sympathetic blogs (they can now add this one), print media, and the CBS Evening New.

Anthony Stramaglia, one of the campaign leaders, is optimistic that through continued efforts, they will be able to save this icon to air travel.  I urge all of you to support effort to save Worldport and other mid-century icons.  This is your part of your heritage and history.

For more information please go to:
http://www.savetheworldport.org
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