On National Aviation Day, we celebrate not just the history of flight, but the places that make air travel possible – like Delta Air Lines’ state-of-the-art Terminal C at LaGuardia Airport (LGA).
From its earliest planning stages, LGA’s $8 billion redevelopment has reflected the collective commitment of New York State and regional leaders to transform the once beleaguered facility into a modern, future-focused hub.
Alongside STV’s program management (PM) and construction management (CM) team partners Satterfield & Pontikes Construction (S&P), Turner Construction and Group PMX – a key part of the larger Delta CMT team – we are proud to have helped deliver a next-generation terminal that will serve millions of travelers annually. As construction manager-as-agent, Delta CMT oversaw all contractors and vendors for this generational project.
LGA’s redevelopment was one of the nation’s most significant and publicly visible infrastructure programs, and Terminal C – which was fully completed and formally closed out earlier this year – marks Delta’s largest ever investment in airport infrastructure. Designed for optimal efficiency and speed, the terminal allows travelers to navigate to and from their gates quickly and intuitively, with a user-friendly check-in experience featuring dozens of self-serve kiosks and bag drop counters.
A larger and more streamlined security area is now equipped with 11 screening lanes with room for five additional lanes in the future. Four concourses feature 38 flexibly sized gates that can accommodate Delta’s full fleet and are accessible through a single headhouse rather than divided between two different facilities as was previously the case.
In short, the new Terminal C is more than a transportation facility – it is a symbol of resilience, innovation and partnership.
Resilience in the Face of the Pandemic
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020, the project had already been underway for several years. With air traffic dramatically reduced and health concerns at the forefront, our team had to quickly reimagine how to move forward safely while maintaining construction momentum.
Deemed essential by the State of New York, the project continued – but with an entirely new approach. Delta CMT implemented robust health and safety protocols aligned with CDC and government guidelines, including on-site COVID-19 testing for all personnel. We re-sequenced work to take advantage of the lower airport traffic, which enabled us to accelerate critical phases like concourse construction, structural steel erection and curtain wall installation.
This nimble approach proved vital to the project’s success. Our ability to maintain progress while preserving passenger safety and uninterrupted operations was a defining moment of this project. Through dynamic scheduling, coordinated demolition and construction phasing and close communication with Delta, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and other stakeholders, we ensured that even during the height of the pandemic, the traveling public experienced no loss of flight capacity or operational disruptions.
Innovation Driving Passenger Experience
The ability to adapt quickly during unprecedented challenges set the stage for innovative thinking. To manage a program of this scale and complexity, we integrated forward-thinking digital tools, including Procore, Matterport 3D scanning and a proprietary 4D BIM platform to monitor progress and maintain transparency. These tools were especially critical during periods of restricted site access and virtual coordination.
Collaboration on a Grand Scale
These innovations were made possible through a deeply collaborative approach. The complexity and scale of this $4.2 billion program required an integrated and deeply collaborative approach. From the very beginning, our team operated as a unified force, co-located with Delta and the design teams.
This seamless coordination enabled the delivery of 21 coordinated sub-projects nearly 18 months ahead of the original 2026 completion date. It also earned the project a 2024 Project of the Year Award from the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) Metro NY/NJ Chapter – recognizing excellence in construction management.
All of this was achieved thanks to Delta’s proactive and decisive leadership, the agility of our CM team and a shared commitment to delivering a next-generation terminal for millions of travelers. On National Aviation Day, Terminal C stands as proof that when resilience, innovation and collaboration align, we can redefine the travel experience for generations to come.
