LaGuardia Airport—long heralded as the worst of New York City’s three nearby airports—is finally getting a much-needed makeover. A makeover that involves being razed and rebuilt, that is.

Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced that he expects to break ground on the $4 billion construction project in 2016, pending approval from the Board of Directors of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, who are contributing funds for 50 percent of the costs. The construction is estimated to take about 18 months.

Photo: Courtesy the Governor’s Office.

The biggest change to the airport will be a unified, single-terminal structure, as opposed to the current, more fragmented design. Cuomo also hopes to move the structure 600 feet closer to Grand Central Parkway, leaving more room for landings and takeoffs.

“LaGuardia is ‘un-New York,'” Cuomo said during a press conference. “LaGuardia is slow, it’s dated…it is almost universally decried as a poor representation of an airport, let alone a New York airport.”

Photo: Courtesy the Governor’s Office.

But who will design the new LaGuardia? The top submissions were made by three New York-based firms: Dattner Architects, PRESENT Architecture, and SHoP Architects, whose suggestions have been compiled into a report by the Governor’s Advisory Panel.

They will collaborate on all aspects of the airport’s new design, including transportation and master plan design.

Photo: Courtesy the Governor’s Office.

“[R]ight now there is a once in a lifetime opportunity to implement a comprehensive design that will make LaGuardia Airport the truly world-class experience New Yorkers and visitors deserve,” said SHoP Architects in a press release.

LaGuardia’s snazzy new terminal will also feature a safer and more efficient TSA screening zone, storm resiliency infrastructure, and a new high-speed ferry service as well as creature comforts like state-of-the-art shopping and dining options.

The plan will create 8,000 temporary construction jobs and 18,000 permanent jobs for New Yorkers.