MUST SEE: JFK airport taps Gensler to design terminal for animals

Perhaps taking cue from the pre-industrial era, architecture and design trends are starting to reflect how integral animals are in human life. For example, a survey conducted this year by the National Kitchen and Bath Association revealed that NKBA member designers see an increasing demand for pet friendly kitchens.

Taking that to the next level is New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, which Fast Company reports has commissioned Gensler to design a terminal entirely for animals.

Around 70,000 animals, from pets to livestock, travel through the airport annually. The new $48 million terminal will be built on the site of an unused cargo terminal.

Aptly named ARK terminal, as in Noah’s Ark, the 178,000-sf structure will act as a shelter and quarantine facility, a huge upgrade from the aging Vetport at JFK.

Unlike its predecessor, the terminal won’t be exclusively utilitarian—jet-setting animals can enjoy training, spa, and grooming services. Illinois-based Paradise 4 Paws will be the main tenant, operating these luxury services.

Dezeen reports that Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine is consulting on the project, while the USDA is “offering guidance and cooperation."

Completion is slated for completion within the first quarter of 2016.

A terminal modernization program can be a complicated and expensive task that airport operators may be hesitant to undertake unless necessitated by demands for increased capacity. This is the first post in our series examining why airport operators should bother to upgrade their facilities, even if capacity isn’t forcing the issue.