Birdair’s TensoSky® ETFE Film to Greet Travelers at JFK International Airport’s New Terminal One

Birdair awarded contract for ETFE cladding system for Arrivals and Departures canopies

Birdair, Inc., the world’s leading specialty contractor for custom tensile membrane structures for over 65 years, will help John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport’s New Terminal One (NTO) take flight with a next-generation TensoSky® ETFE film cladding system. Approximately 300,000 sq. ft. of Birdair’s single-layer ETFE film with reinforcement cables will be installed at NTO’s Arrivals and Departures canopies.

Birdair’s scope of work for the project includes design, fabrication and installation of the ETFE film, cables and clamping, with the supporting structural steel by others. The canopies are expected to be completed by March 1, 2025.

“Birdair is excited to bring our signature TensoSky® ETFE film to an iconic venue like JFK International Airport,” said David Capezzuto, Senior Vice President, Birdair. “With an eye toward the future, JFK is placing a strong emphasis on sustainability and aesthetics for its New Terminal One, and we believe our ETFE film aligns perfectly with these core principles. We look forward to seeing our ETFE cladding system greet thousands of travelers every day at the reimagined terminal.”

TensoSky® ETFE is a new-generation material that goes beyond glass. Durable, highly transparent and very lightweight in comparison to glass structures, ETFE film is considered the material of choice for everything from traditional skylight applications to long span structures and building facades. Few building materials can match TensoSky® ETFE for its impact or presence when designing a structure that stands out from the crowd.

Due to low coefficient of friction of its surface, dust or dirt will not stick to TensoSky® ETFE film. It is also highly transparent (from 90 to 95%) and allows for the passing of UVs, which are responsible for the promotion of photosynthesis thus facilitating plant growth. While ETFE films are very elastic (up to 600% at breaking point), they are still structurally resistant and do not degrade under exposure to environmental pollution, UV light, harsh chemicals or extreme temperature variations.

TensoSky® ETFE film has approximately 70% acoustic transmission. Little energy is consumed from extruding of the film to transportation to site compared to other similar cladding material, resulting in a reduction of the overall carbon footprint. In addition, ETFE systems provide ample natural daylighting, minimizing energy costs by lowering the demand for indoor lighting. Waste from the manufacturing process or even old ETFE elements can be remolded into new ETFE products such as tubing components, wires or castings.

NTO will be constructed by a design-build team led by AECOM Tishman, which has managed construction of some of the world’s most iconic buildings; Gensler, a leading global design and architecture firm; and Thornton Tomasetti, a structural engineering firm that optimizes the design and performance of structures, materials and systems for projects of every size and level of complexity.

NTO will be a 23-gate, state-of-the-art passenger terminal that will anchor the south side of JFK Airport. The terminal is being constructed on the sites of the existing Terminal 1, the 59-year-old Terminal 2 and the former Terminal 3, which was demolished in 2013. The first phase of the project is expected to open in June 2026, while the entire project is slated for completion in 2030.

Sustainably designed and future focused, the new terminal will feature expansive, naturally lit public spaces, cutting-edge technology and an array of amenities, all designed to enhance the customer experience. With over 300,000 sq. ft. of dining, retail, lounges and recreational space, NTO will offer passengers a uniquely New York sense of place, with a Queens flavor.

NTO will reimagine the international passenger experience at JFK Airport while creating opportunities for local, minority and women-owned business enterprises (MWBE) and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses (SDVOB). NTO will serve as a global gateway to the New York metropolitan area and set a new standard for world-class design and service, aspiring to be among the top 10 airport terminals in the world.

A full-service design-build specialty contractor for tensile architecture, Birdair offers a comprehensive range of pre-construction services including design assistance, budgeting, construction methodologies and project schedule development. Birdair’s in-house capabilities include design development, engineering, fabrication, construction (installation) and service and warranty services.

For more information on Birdair’s innovative roofing systems, canopies and skylights, visit Birdair.com and follow Birdair on Facebook and LinkedIn.

About Birdair
Birdair, Inc., is the leading specialty design build contractor of custom tensile structures around the world. In addition to pre-construction services such as design assistance, budgeting, construction methodologies and project scheduling, Birdair provides design-build solutions in all aspects of project design, fabrication, installation and maintenance. The company offers a selection of architectural fabric membranes, including PTFE fiberglass, TensoSky® ETFE film, PVC and Tensotherm™, an insulated tensioned membrane system. Birdair, based in Buffalo, NY, is a member of the Taiyo Kogyo Group, with operations serving North and South America and other international locations. For more information about Birdair, call 1-800-622-2246 or visit Birdair.com.

Contacts:
Pipitone
Chris Hayes
Content Specialist
chayes@pipitone.com | 412.321.0879

Birdair
Michele R. Taylor
Director of Marketing
micheleT@birdair.com | 716.633.9500