Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Newark Liberty International Airport, Terminal A

Burns served as owner’s representative throughout development of the $2.7-billion, 1-million-square-foot Terminal A. The design-build project replaces a 50-year-old terminal with a world-class facility featuring innovative airport technologies and New Jersey-centric multimedia designs.

The largest design-build project in New Jersey history, the 33-gate modernization project expanded capacity by 20 percent and established Newark Liberty International Airport as a premier travel hub.

State-of-the-art terminal amenities enhance the overall passenger experience. Features include:

• Experiential multimedia installations that showcase Garden State landmarks, art, and historical accomplishments
• High-efficiency building systems designed and constructed with techniques to achieve LEEDâ Silver certification
• A commanding frontage that will improve traffic flow and create a 250-percent increase in curbside loading space
• Large dynamic video displays that guide passengers along their journey from curbside to gate
• Future-proofed technology that enable autonomous vehicles to interact with terminal facilities, directing vehicles to ideal drop-off or pick-up locations
• A new Consolidated Rental Car (ConRAC) facility

Burns served as owner’s representative to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) during design and construction and, separately, supported a PGAL-led team during the terminal’s planning stage. Subject matter expertise and on-site consultation services guided:

• Deep foundations, substructure and superstructure systems for the terminal and pedestrian bridge
• Mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire-protection systems
• Advanced technology systems, including video surveillance, access control, electronic visual information displays, Wi-Fi, public safety radio, in-building cellular distributed antenna systems, visual docking guidance systems, SCADA, common use passenger processing, and other special systems
• Experiential multimedia equipment selections and infrastructure configuration
• Site utility infrastructure
• Tenant and concessionaire facility design and construction

Burns was engineer of record for the terminal’s experiential multimedia and unique structural systems. Noteworthy engineering accomplishments include:

• The Forest of Firsts, an installation of two-story multimedia pylons celebrating New Jersey’s scientific, literary, artistic, and technology achievements
• A 1,600-square-foot installation displaying custom-produced art above the TSA checkpoint, welcoming passengers into the concourse
• Artist Karyn Olivier’s “Approach” — two telescoping sculptures that dangle 17 floating metal rings over 52 feet through three levels of the terminal
• The 880-foot-long arrivals-level canopy structure that greets travelers as they approach the terminal
• An Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (EFTE) roofing system for the frontage canopy, providing natural daylight and shelter from inclement weather, while avoiding the costs of a glass covering

In addition, during the project’s final stage of construction, Burns served as the PANYNJ commissioning authority. Third-party oversight ensured the project fulfilled sustainability-design and equipment-testing requirements necessary to achieve LEED Silver certification. Burns’ role involved:

• Audits of terminal HVAC system energy models
• System design reviews
• Building envelope assessment
• Test plan development, pre-functional checklists, functional performance testing, and system integration testing

The project opened to the public in January 2023. Honors include receiving a five-star Skytrax rating and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Prix Versailles Special Prize.

Additional projects at Newark Liberty International Airport include the recently completed ConRAC facility and Runway 4R-22L rehabilitation.

Photos by: G. LYON PHOTOGRAPHY, Inc.