Building 23 was the first successful third party private sector capital investment project at JFK. The project scope included a full spectrum of services: ground lease agreement negotiation, programming, planning, design, financing, construction, and delivery of a major cargo infrastructure at JFK. The Lufthansa Cargo HQ totals 290,000 SF, including 160,000 SF of cargo operations area and 90,000 SF of administrative offices, and 40,000 of ancillary facilities.
The scope of work inlcuded the soils remediation of the former Hangar 8 site, planning and construction of landside operations for truck docks and queuing, employee parking, airside apron pavement staging for 4 ADG Group V aircraft complete with GPUs, GSE maintenance facilities, and a 330-pallet position automated TV/ULD structure. It also included an unusual drive-in vault for the transfer of valuables, bank notes, currency, gems, and precious objects. Airis performed all planning, financing, construction management, delivery, and LH Cargo acceptance. Building 23 and Buiding 21 remain the most modern cargo facilities at JFK.
Of particular note, Airis negotiated a unique form of a Bridge Agreement between the PANYNJ and the City of New York (under the Guiliani Administration) for the survival of the ground lease and project investment in the event of a JFK Master Lease termination. The project received creditworthiness ratings from Standard & Poors, Moodys, and Fitch agencies.