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.
Related Stories
Building Team | Jun 23, 2017
These are the recipients of the AIA's 2017 Small Project Awards
11 projects were awarded in 2017.
Building Team | Jun 22, 2017
Seven lessons learned on commissioning projects
Commissioning is where the rubber meets the road in terms of building design.
Sponsored | Building Team | Jun 20, 2017
Plan ahead when building in the west
Getting a project through plan review can be an unusually long process, anywhere from six months to two years.
Architects | May 9, 2017
Movers + Shapers: The social connector
Studio Gang gains fans with buildings that unite people and embrace the outside world.
Sponsored | Building Team | May 8, 2017
The builder is the building: Finding the right builder
The most important factor in making sure the where, when, what, and how go smoothly is making sure you pick the right who.
Architects | May 3, 2017
Avoiding trouble in paradise: Tips on building successfully in the Caribbean
The island setting itself is at the root of several of these disruptive assumptions.
Libraries | Apr 7, 2017
Eight recipients selected for the 2017 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards
Columbus Metropolitan Library, National Library of Latvia, and Varina Area Library were all honored by the AIA and ALA.
K-12 Schools | Apr 7, 2017
Is an alternative project delivery method right for your K-12 school district?
With California’s increasingly busy—and costly—construction market, it’s becoming more difficult to predict costs with a typical design-bid-build delivery method.
Market Data | Apr 6, 2017
Architecture marketing: 5 tools to measure success
We’ve identified five architecture marketing tools that will help your firm evaluate if it’s on the track to more leads, higher growth, and broader brand visibility.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Apr 5, 2017
Informed design: A dynamic approach to athletic facilities design
With the completion of the athletic facility upgrade—dubbed the Arden Project—students will have access to state-of-the-art facilities.
