Moved Once, Saarinen's TWA Trumpet To Fall
By Margaret Foster | Online Only | Mar. 27, 2008
Eero Saarinen's TWA trumpet connected the now-demolished flightwings.
Credit: JetBlue
Plans to save a unique section of Eero Saarinen's TWA terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport have stalled on the runway.
The New York State Historic Preservation Office, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, have approved JetBlue Airways' plan to demolish a 5,000-square-foot departure lounge known as "the trumpet." JetBlue demolished the other lounges and flight wings three years ago to make way for a new terminal, while retaining the iconic 1962 main terminal for future restoration.
JetBlue's decision was a surprise to some preservation groups, who met with JetBlue last year to discuss renovating the trumpet, which the Port Authority paid $895,000 to relocate last April.
"We think it's a stupid, stupid move," says Frank Sanchis, senior vice president of the Municipal Art Society, a New York-based preservation group that is part of the 15-member Redevelopment Advisory Committee, formed in 2003 to consult with JetBlue. "We've called on the [federal] Advisory Council to intervene ... the Section 106 process was not appropriately followed here."
The famous section of Saarinen's TWA terminal, the "head house," will be renovated.
Credit: National Trust for Historic Preservation
Others are willing to accept as inevitable the loss of the trumpet as long as Port Authority moves forward with plans to renovate the "head house," or main terminal.
"It sounds like it has to happen," says Peg Breen, president of the New York Landmarks Conservancy. "We tried the move; it isn't working for JetBlue, and the money really needs to be put into the head house if we're going to find alternative uses for that building. We agree that that is the best use for the money."
Restoring the trumpet would have cost about $1.2 million, Breen says.
Now the challenge is to find a new use for the head house. Proposals include a conference center, an aviation museum, or a restaurant.
Read about Saarinen's other 1962 terminal, Dulles International Airport >>
Comments
Submitted by Storyteller312 at: April 13, 2008
After all these years, meetings, committees and alleged experts, this is the final outcome? How very sad to watch the dismemberment of Saarinen's architectural masterpiece. Apparently, JetBlue honors neither the commitment to their passengers nor the people of New York.
Submitted by Rich S. at: April 3, 2008
This is a travesity. What happened to the public participation in this process? Or, why did the SHPO step in to assist? I understand that much of the terminal has been demolished, but if the original agreement wasn't followed, then this is not good.
Submitted by Anna'sDad at: March 27, 2008
LOVE that building, great story.Cool to see Saarinen's work outside Dulles. Thanks "Preservation"