Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has marked the start of construction on Concourse D at O’Hare International Airport (ORD). This 1.3 billion USD development represents the first major stage in the airport’s terminal expansion.
The new concourse, forming part of the wider O’Hare 21 capital programme, is designed to increase passenger capacity and support future growth. Scheduled for completion in late 2028, Concourse D will provide 19 new gates for narrow-body aircraft, with the flexibility to convert 18 of them into nine wide-body gates.
The plans also include more than 20,000 square feet of lounge space, 30,000 square feet of retail and dining areas, and a 450-square-foot children’s play zone.
At its northern end, the 590,000-square-foot facility will feature a three-level atrium with a central oculus to bring daylight into the building. Structural columns, inspired by the apple orchard that once occupied the site, are incorporated into the design.
The design team is led by Chicago-based Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, working with Ross Barney Architects, Juan Gabriel Moreno Architects and Arup. Construction is being managed by AECOM Hunt Clayco Bowa.
Mayor Brandon Johnson said:To maintain Chicago’s global leadership in the 21st century, we must continue investing in O’Hare, our region’s most powerful economic engine. With construction now underway on The New Concourse D, my administration is committed to building upon the airport’s legacy by delivering modern, world-class facilities that will elevate the passenger experience at America’s best-connected hub.
This is the first of two satellite concourses planned under the Terminal Area Plan. Concourse E, to follow at a later stage, will add 24 further gates. Longer-term plans include replacing Terminal 2 with the O’Hare Global Terminal and building a new underground tunnel to improve connections for passengers, airport staff and baggage operations.
Recent improvements at O’Hare under the same capital programme include a 300 million USD modernisation of Terminal 3, an extension of Terminal 5 with ten additional gates and a new parking structure, and multiple taxiway and runway upgrades.
The full O’Hare 21 programme represents an 8.2 billion USD investment intended to reconfigure the airport’s terminals and facilities for long-term demand.
