Monday, October 21, 2024 – A WONDERFUL RELAXING LOUNGE AT LGA ***OPEN TO ALL

By admin

The Atrium Business

and

Conference Center

at

LaGuardia Airport

Monday, October 21, 2024


OPEN HOUSE NEW YORK


ISSUE #1331

The Atrium Business and Conference Center at LaGuardia Airport offers areas for collaboration, leisure and celebration. Located pre-security in LaGuardia’s newly renovated Terminal B, the 55,000-square-foot space was designed by New York-based LUBRANO CIAVARRA Architects. The lobby, which includes the critically acclaimed Orpheus and Apollo sculpture by Richard Lippold, is open to the public from 6-12am every day. The Orpheus and Apollo Lounge on the mezzanine level offers cocktails and light bites with views of the Manhattan skyline and airport runways.

For many years OHNY has opened doors to many “off-limit” sites in the City for a weekend in October. (Years age the RIHS hosted many weekends on the island with OHNY.)

When I saw the Atrium Business Center at La Guardia would be open yesterday, it was time to take the F train to Roosevelt Avenue and the free MTA bus to La Guardia. 

The Business Center is located a the far end of the “B:” terminal.  There did not seem to be any signs so the staff pointed me to the end of the terminal.

Two volunteers from OHNY greeted me and I was free to check out the Center. (There had been a tour before, but it was sold out.).  Few visitors were present since many consider La Guardia a distance to great to travel to.  

On the main level were there were groupings of comfortable chairs and some passengers were enjoy the calm oasis.

Looking up to a stage, there was a uniquely shaped screen showing black and white videos of New York past and present.

The entire Center reminds you that you are in NEW YORK CITY.

ORPHEUS AND APOLLO suspending sculptures hang in free flow from 444 wires above the Center. For decades Orpheus and Apollo hung at Philharmonic Hall in Lincoln Center.  They were removed and placed in storage for the renovation of the building.  Paul Goldbeger, famed architecture critic suggested that they could be relocated to La Guardia.  (That was a brilliant idea!).

The Chrysler Building plays a major role on the upper level with its face wrapping around one of the walls.

I sat down to chat with other visitors, and in front of me was the tram!  (Part of it was hidden by an air vent) but the bottom of the cabin was visible>

The upper level is carpeted in delightfully soft carpet and soft comfortable furniture.. There is  liquor bar along one window wall. You can have a Martini overlooking Southwest Airlines  planes parked below and the Long Island Sound in the distance.

Desginer Sarah Tsang of the Architecture firm Lubrano Ciavarra Architects was on site and we had a great time discussing the project. She is open and glad to discuss the design concepts, hiding infrastructure, and working with the Port Authority. When originally conceived the was to be an air-train to La Guardia, (This Cuomo project was later canceled). There is also a conference center on the lower level. At the moment it is only open to airport related businesses. Tsang hopes that it will be open soon to outside groups.
This lounge is at the check-in level or (level 3) when you arrive by bus. For the grand total of $2.90 (senior fare) airports can be very enjoyable!!!

PHOTO OF THE DAY

SHORTEN THAN THE DAY, 2020
SARAH SZE
FLOATS ABOVE THE MAIN ENTRANCE TO TERMINAL B

CREDITS

PORT AUTHORITY OF NY & NJ
OPEN HOUSE NEW YORK
JUDITH BERDY

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