May/June 2023 - 14

AIRPORT PROFILE
Technology
As travelers check in and head to
TSA, they will notice a large LED
display overhead that welcomes them
to the new terminal and New Jersey.
Beyond check-in travelers are greeted
with several other digital displays
showcasing the Garden State.
The Port Authority and Munich
Airport NJ LLC contracted with
Moment Factory to design the
" Forest of Firsts, " which is an immersive
multimedia digital display located
just outside of TSA at the heart
of the terminal. The display features
the state's firsts in multiple categories
of human accomplishment in
science, literature, energy, film and
more accompanied by music and
moving graphics.
" Some of the unique features that
we tried to incorporate into this terminal
is to really embrace the fact
that we are in New Jersey. We're very
proud of that, " Heitman said. " We
want to make that evident throughout
your journey. So, you'll see a lot
of digital technology with a lot of fun
facts about New Jersey. " Heitman said
the new terminal is different from the
old terminal in many ways, but most
notably is the technology.
" The old terminals were built pre
9/11 pre-security standards. The new
one has modern latest technology and
TSA security screening that does the
most comprehensive type of screening
and in a very quick and efficient
manner, " Heitman said.
" Technology is always changing,
evolving, and some of the highlights
that we've incorporated here are
touchless, " Heitman said. " Especially
being built in the middle of COVID,
we even went a little step further to
make sure that we used modern technology.
So, there's biometrics, facial
recognition that you can opt into, but
even if you don't, there's touchless
processing throughout the terminal,
both to get into the TSA line and
then to get on the plane when you're
ready to board. "
14 \ AIRPORT BUSINESS / MAY/JUNE 2023
Sustainability
The Port Authority's sustainability
goals include going net-zero by 2050.
Part of that goal was trying to make
the new infrastructure as efficient
as possible. The airport introduced
photovoltaics at the entrance of the
terminal. In addition, EWR installed
the single largest solar panel installation
of its type on top of the public
parking facility.
" It's a 5-megawatt
installation,
which is the largest installation of
its type at an airport, and we're very
proud of that, " Heitman said. " It was
activated earlier this year, and the last
I checked it already produced a gigawatt
of power. "
In addition to the solar, Heitman
said EWR is trying to make the parking
and rental car facility with the
rental car partners EV ready.
" So, we put in over 150 EV chargers
in our public parking facility, and
we work with the rental car facilities
to put the infrastructure in and
to be able to provide the demands
for 100% conversion of electric vehicles
in the rental car market as well, "
Heitman said.
Children's play area.
Parking Facility
" This was a public private partnership
with the rental car companies, a private
developer and the Port Authority, "
Heitman said. So, we have our top
three floors, our public parking, the
bottom three floors, our rental car
facilities and we tried to embrace
the same themes. So, we have New
Jersey themes throughout the terminal
to represent the urban, the shore, the
forest, the cities, and communities. "
On the exterior of the parking
facility is a New Jersey aviation-based
theme that travelers can see as they
drive by.
" It's bas-relief art, which is where
you take a surface and imprint the
images, " Heitman said. " So, you'll see
around this facility, aviation transportation
themes and New Jersey with the
Lady Liberty featured front and center
on the facility. "
Challenges and
Successes
Husser said the biggest privilege while
designing the terminal was being able
May/June 2023

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