EWR Opens Terminal A!

Newark Liberty International Airport’s (EWR) new 1-million-square-foot, 33-gate Terminal A opened to the public on January 12, 2023. The new terminal will allow the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (PANYNJ) to meet the increasing volume and needs of travelers for years to come.

Arora Engineers (Arora) was honored to provide fire/life safety and special systems engineering and construction administration services for this program under the Tutor Perini Design Build Team as a sub-consultant to STV. In addition, Arora served as Master Systems Integrator (MSI) and Technical Systems Expert (TSE) under the electrical contractor Five Star Electric, as well as provided electrical, plumbing, and special systems engineering services as a subconsultant to AERO Systems Engineering, Inc. (Aero) for the Airside Gates during design development, construction documents, and construction administration phases of work.

We have compiled interesting facts about EWR’s Terminal A below:

1. The Redevelopment of Terminal A represents the largest design/build project in New Jersey’s history.

2. Upgraded Self-Service and Health/Safety amenities. Terminal A features a hospital-grade air filtration system, PACC 66 self-bag drops, 60+ self-check ins, and touchless payment options for concessions.

3. Innovate Design for an Innovative Facility! In an effort to reduce clashes in this level 3 BIM model, the project leads developed a color-coded zoning system for systems design. This process of assigning the various trades distinct, color-coded zones early on in the design process helped the team realize far few clashes as they continued the design.

4. Creating a distinctly ‘New Jerseyan’ sense of place. “Terminal A is expected to generate more than $4.6 billion in regional economic activity, create more than 2,500 jobs and provide more than $1.9 billion in wages. As of June 2022, the Terminal A program had awarded 94 sub-contracts to minority and women-owned business enterprises (MWBE) totaling more than $686 million and $213 million for 92 sub-contracts to New Jersey firms.” Learn more here.

5. The centralized arrivals/departures hub features a world-class, dual-sided roadway and 1,000+ft of curb frontage which added 250% more curbside loading space to ease passenger movement and improve passenger and baggage processing.

6. To help the PANYNJ meet their goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, the new terminal features several sustainable design solutions including solar panels on the curbside glass canopy and roof of the integrated parking structure, water-efficient plumbing fixtures, electrical buses, and energy-efficient indoor lighting and controls.