The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) has selected aviation planning and design firm Arup and architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) to partner on an ambitious vision plan for future development of Newark Liberty International Airport.
Arup and SOM will be tasked with developing a comprehensive development strategy and blueprint – including extensive local community outreach and participation – to accommodate future growth and demand, improve the travel experience and identify opportunities for enhancing the sustainability and resiliency of the facility.
“The Newark vision plan will amount to a complete reimagining of what Newark Liberty can be for Newark and Elizabeth, the state of New Jersey and the region as a whole,” said Kevin O’Toole, PANYNJ chairman. “Newark Liberty is a place steeped in history and the Newark vison plan will serve as the pivotal next chapter in its future. Alongside our elected officials, community leaders and airport stakeholders, we will write it together.”
Arup and SOM will be analyzing the airport’s existing capacity and providing a comprehensive framework to accommodate expected passenger and cargo growth through 2065. The two firms will oversee architectural, planning, engineering, and business development services for EWR, while factoring in the short- and long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the airport’s travel volumes and customer demands as part of the planning process.
In addition, they will develop strategies for more operationally efficient parking facilities, road access and the potential creation of new Ground Transportation Center (GTC) facilities to meet current and future needs. Experts hired to conduct the study will also be asked to identify new cutting-edge technology resources to improve the customer experience and wayfinding capabilities.
EWR currently has three major projects underway totaling about $5.3 billion in public and private investment, including a new $2.7 billion, one million square foot Terminal A set to open later this year and a Consolidated Rent-A-Car facility set for a full opening next year.
