After marking the fifth anniversary of his Top of the Standard club during Fashion Week, hotelier Andre Balazs has reason to keep celebrating.
His company has been tapped by Port Authority officials to develop JFK’s historic TWA terminal — and Page Six can exclusively reveal that the hotel project will be called the Standard, Flight Center.
The Eero Saarinen-designed terminal will be transformed into a hotel and conference center, along with food and beverage offerings, retail space, a spa and fitness center, meeting facilities and a flight museum.
“It is a great honor to be entrusted with the preservation and revitalization of this masterpiece by my personal architectural hero,” said Balazs. He added that he’s looking forward to the approval of his final proposal by the PA board, but didn’t comment on a specific time frame.
The agency’s executive director, Pat Foye, confirmed that the PA is talking only with Balazs, saying in a statement: “The Port Authority is committed to preserving the essence of [Saarinen’s] iconic design and to continuing to work with [Balazs Properties] on a plan to transform the historic TWA Flight Center into a one-of-a-kind hotel and conference center in the heart of JFK’s central terminal area.
“I look forward to . . . a presentation of a final vision to the Port Authority board of commissioners for consideration,” Foye said.
The move comes amid a flurry of deals for Balazs’ Standard brand, which we reported last week will create a “riverfront spa and beach club” hospitality venture at Pier 57 at West 15th Street and the Hudson River.
Balazs also sold his majority stake in the Standard chain last week, but will be chairman of a newly formed management company, Standard International.
He’s also looking for buyers for his Standard, High Line — which houses the Top of the Standard (aka the Boom Boom Room) and Le Bain — but expects to continue managing the property.