News release

American Express Signature Experiences Take Off at Elevated JFK Airport Lounge

The lounge experience leverages the comfort of knowing what to expect with the delight of new surprises

December 01, 2020

NEW YORK, Dec. 1, 2020 – The bold blue doors in Terminal 4 at JFK International Airport are the latest destination for many frequent fliers. American Express premium Card Members know what to expect when they arrive at an American Express The Centurion® Lounge, but that doesn’t mean each arrival doesn’t hold the excitement of a new experience. The latest airport lounge, featuring design collaboration by Big Red Rooster, a JLL company, boasts the familiarity Card Members crave, inspired by New York City architecture and history.

“The lounge experience we’ve created with American Express is a distinguishable card benefit that can’t be replicated by others,” said Beth Dorsey, Vice President, 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."

Local flavor in the new JFK lounge includes:

  • Exterior branded façade
    • Inspired by the NYC subway murals and handcrafted in Italy, the mosaic provides a textural branded expression of The Centurion namesake.
  • Private escape spaces
    • Intimate phone rooms that appear to be floating in the space can be found throughout the lounge to offer private escape spaces for travelers. Each room is inspired by a color, a decade, and New York architecture.
  • “1850" Speakeasy experience
    • An intimate speakeasy setting inspired by 1920s design, offers artisan coffee by day and adventurous cocktails by night, designed by Centurion Lounge mixologist Jim Meehan. A hidden entrance door is marked with “1850” signifying the name of the lounge and nodding to the year American Express was founded.
  • Multi-purpose room
    • A multi-functional living room for guests and their families, featuring 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 thirteen 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,” said Katherine Kline, Creative Director, 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 truly one-of-a-kind environments.”

For more information, please visit bigredrooster.com/case-study/american-express-centurion-lounge.


About JLL

JLL (NYSE: JLL) is a leading professional services firm that specializes in real estate and investment management. JLL shapes the future of real estate for a better world by using the most advanced technology to create rewarding opportunities, amazing spaces and sustainable real estate solutions for our clients, our people and our communities. JLL is a Fortune 500 company with annual revenue of $18.0 billion in 2019, operations in over 80 countries and a global workforce of over 92,000 as of September 30, 2020. JLL is the brand name, and a registered trademark, of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated. For further information, visit jll.com.