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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media contacts:
As Construction Continues at JFK Int'l Airport,
ARK Development, LLC,
Completes Design and Schematic Development of The ARK at JFK
World's First Integrated Animal Handling Airport Terminal
Enters Pre-Operational Mode
NEW YORK, NY - November 11, 2015
- ARK Development, LLC, an affiliate of leading real estate company Racebrook Capital, has released its final project renderings, ending design and schematic development for The ARK at JFK.
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Construction underway at
The ARK at JFK, Oct. 2015
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In parallel, as construction continues to progress, The Ark is ramping up its pre-operational business phase, with staff identification, employment and training, as well as additional outreach to clients, end-users and other stakeholders. Earlier this year, after executing a 32-year lease agreement with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, ARK Development took over Cargo Building 78, performed selective demolition, and began construction of The ARK at JFK, a $48-million, 14.4 acre, state-of-the-art animal handling and intelligent air cargo facility.
"Redeveloping cargo infrastructure and growing the cargo pie at New York and New Jersey's airports is vital to
supporting
thousands of jobs and hundreds of
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Lifting supplies onto the roof of
The ARK at JFK construction
project in Oct. 2015
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millions of dollars in economic activity for the region," said Port Authority Executive Director Pat Foye. "ARK's
investment of
$48 million into JFK
will
transform an airport structure that has been vacant for nearly 10 years into a world-class specialty cargo facility, and the agreement guarantees the Port Authority more than $100 million in revenue without any additional capital investment."
Design by Architectural Leaders
The ARK at JFK was designed by master architect Gensler, specialty architects Lachlan Oldaker Equine Design and Temple Grandin Livestock Handling Systems, and engineers Clough Harbour Associates, with construction management by Holt Construction. Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine is providing consultation and oversight through all phases of planning and operational development, in addition to cooperation and guidance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
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Import receiving bay for The ARK at JFK (rendering
)
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"We developed The Ark concept
to address the unmet needs for the import and
export of companion, sporting and agricultural animals,"
said ARK/Racebrook Chairman and CEO John J. Cuticelli, Jr
. "
The ARK at JFK will set the standard and be the flagship of what will prove to be the turnkey solution to animal cargo and handling at international airports worldwide, for comprehensive and integrated travel-related veterinary, kenneling and quarantine services."
Original Artwork by Internationally Renowned Pop Artist, Charles Fazzino
The exterior design of The ARK at JFK emphasizes its family and pet-oriented nature, with bright multi-colored architectural and animal highlights on the façade, two dog runs and relief areas, benches and picnic tables for clients and employees. The Ark will also have on permanent display an original three-dimensional mixed media artwork created by internationally renowned and award-winning pop art master, Charles Fazzino, in the main lobby.
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| The ARK at JFK (rendering) |
"With demand for pets and animals of all kinds to be transported by air escalating
year after year, we recognized the need for a more user friendly, humane and efficient model for this significant segment of the air travel industry.
A world-class facility with more than 650,000 square feet of property on the runway system at JFK already gives us pride of place in New York, the Northeast, and the predominant gateway into North America," commented Dr. Aaron S. Perl, Managing Director and General Counsel of ARK Development. "We couldn't be more thrilled that Charles Fazzino has agreed to provide his time and considerable talent to memorialize The ARK at JFK in a skyscraping vista and urban jungle landscape, created in his own inimitable style."
Financing Through Build NYC
"Build NYC bonds are a crucial tool in the City's overall efforts to drive the economy, encouraging business growth and job creation in all five boroughs," said Jeffrey Lee, Executive Director of Build NYC. "The Air Cargo industry at JFK is an important component of New York City's greater economy, directly responsible for over 17,000 jobs, and The ARK at JFK will help bolster JFK's competitive advantage as an international air cargo gateway, a major New York City Economic Development Corporation priority."
USDA-approved Quarantine, Pet Boarding and 24/7 Animal Care
Through its operational arm and its tenants' services,
The Ark will be the world's only privately owned animal handling cargo terminal with direct access to the taxiway and its own aircraft parking ramp, and will house a USDA-approved, full-service 24-hour airport quarantine facility for the import and export of horses, pets, birds, and livestock.
Su
btenants already on board include
Consolidated Aviation Services (CAS)
, North America's leading air cargo ground handler;
Paradise 4 Paws
, which will provide award-winning pet boarding services in its 20,000 square foot resort, spa and training center for cats and dogs;
Red Bank Veterinary Hospital
, a companion animal hospital for 24/7 general medicine, emergency, critical care, internal medicine, surgery and advanced diagnostics; and
VetAura
, a leading network of companion animal diagnostic laboratories.
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The ARK at JFK export staging stalls (rendering)
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"We are excited to partner with ARK Development on such a monumental and visionary project that will utterly transform the way other airports approach their animal handling responsibilities," said Mike Duffy, CEO of Consolidated Aviation Services, which will serve as the anchor tenant and exclusive ground handler for The Ark and clients Air France, KLM, and Martin Air.
With launch of The Ark expected by the middle of 2016, The Ark's management and tenants continue to direct their collective efforts to bring together an array of regulatory requirements, information systems and operating procedures, in anticipation of their respective clients' significant utilization of the facility and its services. In spite of the increasing complexities, Managing Director Dr. Perl remains reassured.
"Committed and enthusiastic participation by all stakeholders -- including aviation and cargo industry leaders, federal, state and municipal government, public and private companies, academia and, of course, animal lovers and owners across the globe -- is indicative of a shared vision and common goal that have sparked the imagination and which Racebrook and ARK Development are making a reality."
# # #
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About The ARK at JFK Team and Partners
ARK Development's managing member is a subsidiary of Racebrook, a private equity firm and portfolio of companies based in New York City that finances, develops, constructs, operates and manages real estate assets.
Racebrook is a real estate private equity, management and advisory portfolio of companies, founded by John J. Cuticelli, Jr., in 2004, as a division of Warburg Pincus LLC. Since its inception, Racebrook has acquired and invested in real property, including direct and indirect interests in improved and unimproved real estate, loans, and securities, and provided focused solutions for a wide array of related assets. Racebrook and its affiliates have the ability to invest principally in real property - including but not limited to direct or indirect interests in improved and unimproved real estate, loans, and securities including non-performing commercial mortgage loans ("NPLs" and "CMBS") and other real estate related assets across North America; operate real property, with significant experience in development, redevelopment, entitlements, property management, and leasing; and workout, restructure, and advise on real property as well as on sub- and non-performing commercial loans secured by real property. Racebrook is the parent of Sheldon Good & Co., the nation's leading property auction company, which is celebrating its fiftieth year in operation.
Founded in 1921, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey builds, operates, and maintains
many of the most important transportation and trade infrastructure assets in the country. The agency's
network of aviation, ground, rail, and seaport facilities is among the busiest in the country, supports
more than 550,000 regional jobs, and generates more than $23 billion in annual wages and $80 billion
in annual economic activity. The Port Authority also owns and manages the 16-acre World Trade
Center site, where construction crews are building the iconic One World Trade Center, which is now
the tallest skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere. The Port Authority receives no tax revenue from
either the State of New York or New Jersey or from the City of New York. The agency raises the
necessary funds for the improvement, construction or acquisition of its facilities primarily on its own
credit. For more information, please visit
www.panynj.gov
.
Consolidated Aviation Services (CAS) is based at JFK International Airport and provides passenger and ramp handling, international and domestic cargo warehouse and ramp handling and facility management to more than one hundred air carriers at fifty airport locations in the United States and Canada. In addition to standard services, CAS has extensive experience in live animal handling and is the largest cargo handler at JFK, where it serves more than forty carriers in six cargo facilities.
Since opening its first location near Chicago's O'Hare International Airport in 2008, Paradise 4 Paws has become the preeminent pet resort in the Denver, Dallas/Fort Worth and Chicagoland areas. The award-winning pet resorts feature 20,000+ sq. ft. of space dedicated to 24-hour cageless dog and cat care. Pets enjoy expansive suites, some with flat screen televisions and 24-hour webcams, and recreational areas complete with bone-shaped swimming pools for dogs, and an adventure jungle for cats. Services such as obedience training, grooming and pet massage therapy complete the experience. Humans enjoy webcam access, onsite parking, complimentary airport shuttle, and 24-hour check-in/check-out every day of the year. For more information, visit www.Paradise4Paws.com, or call (847) 678-1200 for reservations, or (708) 667-7742 for media inquiries.
Gensler is a global design firm grounded in the belief that great design optimizes business performance and human potential. Gensler's 4,500 practitioners networked across 46 offices use global perspective and local presence to innovate at every scale. Whether refreshing a retailer's brand, planning a new urban district or designing a super tall building, Gensler strives to make the everyday places people occupy more inspiring, more resilient and more impactful.
Holt Construction Corp. is a full service construction management and general contracting firm offering an extensive range of services in the New York metropolitan area and beyond. Founded in 1919 by Fred L. Holt, we are now celebrating our 96th year in business with our 3rd and 4th generations of exceptional Holt family leadership. Holt Construction Corp. thrives on its reputation as a quality construction company that maintains its core values and "family" atmosphere above all while providing the best service to our clients in the industry. Integrity, harmony and communication are the true keys to our successful leadership and projects.
Lachlan Oldaker | Equine Design is a specialty architectural practice focusing on the planning and design of equine facilities. Before going into private practice, Lachlan Oldaker was the senior equine architect and specialty practice leader at GH2 Gralla Equine Architects where she worked closely with Stan W. Gralla, author of the "The Horseman's Architect" and founder of GH2. Lachlan has over 30 years of experience in designing equine facilities of all types ranging from Class I racetracks, veterinary hospitals, private training farms, breeding facilities, therapeutic riding centers, equestrian lifestyle communities and equestrian show venues. Her recent projects as the equine project architect include the Hong Kong Jockey Club Thoroughbred Race Training Center, Equest Therapeutic Riding Center, and the Bell County Expo Center Expansion located in Belton, Texas.
Red Bank Veterinary Hospital was founded in 1986 and is part of the Red Bank Veterinary Hospital Healthcare Network which consists of 24-hour emergency, critical care, and specialty hospitals in Tinton Falls, Cherry Hill, Hillsborough, and Linwood, New Jersey, as well as the RBVH Center for Integrative Veterinary Medicine located in Red Bank, New Jersey. Network specialties include acupuncture, anesthesiology & pain management, avian & exotics, behavior, cardiology, chiropractic, clinical nutrition, dentistry & oral surgery, dermatology & allergy, internal medicine, interventional radiology & endoscopy, neurology & neurosurgery, oncology (medical & radiation), ophthalmology, physical rehabilitation, sports medicine, and surgery (orthopedic & soft tissue). To learn more, visit Red Bank Veterinary Hospital at www.rbvh.net.
VetAura is a full-service veterinary laboratory providing an array of diagnostic services that include routine as well as esoteric lab services. As a company, VetAura's expert team has hundreds of years of experience in the laboratory field, benefiting from both the veterinary and human diagnostic sides of laboratory testing. Further information on VetAura is available at
www.vetaura.com or by calling 51
6-277-2225.
Westport Capital Partners LLC is a real estate investment firm specializing in the opportunistic real estate arena. Westport provides domestic and international investment opportunities to institutional and private clients. Through its various funds, the firm invests in a wide variety of distressed and opportunistic real estate assets. The firm has offices in Wilton, CT, Los Angeles, CA and London, England. For more information regarding Westport Capital Partners LLC, please visit
www.westportcp.com.
The Real Estate Investment Group (REIG), a division of Union Labor Life, originates, underwrites and manages real estate mortgages. Our success is the result of consistent and disciplined underwriting, conservative loan structuring, strong portfolio diversification and risk management practices. ULLICO's goal is to provide competitive fixed and floating rate construction and permanent loans for high quality real estate. REIG is headquartered in Silver Spring, MD and has regional offices in Chicago, New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles. The 19 member professional team manages over $2.6 billion in commercial mortgages.
The Build NYC Resource Corporation (Build NYC) is a conduit bond issuer administered by NYCEDC and assists qualified not-for-profit institutions and other entities in obtaining tax-exempt and taxable bond financing. To request information on Build NYC, call (212) 312-3600 or e-mail
[email protected]
.
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