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Off to a Flying Start
New AmEx lounge in JFK set to appeal
with familiar, yet localized design
AMERICAN EXPRESS CENTURION LOUNGE | JFK International Airport, NYC
Contributing Shop! member: Big Red Rooster, a JLL company design
The latest airport lounge for American Express boasts the familiarity of the company’s Centurion Lounge experiences, blended with local flavor. Design collaboration by Big Red Rooster, a JLL company, was inspired by New York City architecture and history.
Members appreciate consistency with varied flavor in different lounges.
“The lounge experience we’ve created with American Express is a distinguishable card benefit that can’t be replicated by others,” says Beth Dorsey, VP of Big Red Rooster. “AmEx Card Members appreciate the consistency of the experience and amenities, but enjoy the varied flavor as they travel to different lounges.”
The exterior branded façade is branded with a mosaic inspired by the NYC subway murals. Handcrafted in Italy, it provides a textural branded expression of The Centurion namesake.
Throughout the lounge, intimate phone rooms appear to be floating in the space. Offering a private escape space for travelers, each room is inspired by a color, a decade, and New York architecture.
An intimate speakeasy setting offers artisan coffee by day, or at night, adventurous cocktails designed by Centurion Lounge mixologist Jim Meehan. A hidden entrance door marked “1850” signifies the name of the lounge in a nod to the year American Express was founded.
A multifunctional living room for guests and their families features a whimsical floor-to-ceiling wallcovering. A media wall offers cubbies for toys and TV entertainment, while allowing guests to charge their electronics.
Big Red Rooster has partnered with American Express since 2009 and collaborated on 13 Centurion Lounges worldwide. All Centurion Lounges offer touchless restrooms and mobile check-in for a seamless and safe entry.
“We seek to create memorable experiences within each lounge, by using the city and culture of each location as inspiration,” says Katherine Kline, creative director of Big Red Rooster. “We balance consistency with localization by curating moments that are elegant but authentic. From handcrafted finishes, custom designed textures, and vintage artifacts, we play with texture and tone to craft one-of-a-kind environments.”
