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Construction of the new Concourse D advances in Chicago O'Hare with an investment 1.300 millions of dollars and 19 flexible doors to transform the 'hub’ from Illinois. Photo ord21.com
The Chicago O'Hare International Airport (WORDS) moves steadily towards its deeper modernization through the ORDNext program. Within the framework of the recent tourism fair IPW 2026, We had the opportunity to speak directly with the airport administrators, who shared the details and current status of one of its most ambitious pillars: the new Concourse D (Room D).
This project represents the first major vertical infrastructure milestone of the terminal expansion in more than 30 years and will completely transform the national and international connection experience in this super global connection center.
The new Concourse D at Chicago ORD
Next, We review all the details and technical specifications that will define this mega-work that the Airport shared for this blog:
Investment and financing
The construction of the new Concourse D requires an approximate investment of 1.300 millions of dollars. This amount includes about 300 million allocated to parallel improvements of peripheral infrastructure, such as basic service systems in the airfield, paving and a new central refrigeration plant to support future expansions.
Dimensions and architectural design
The building will have a surface covered with 590.000 square feet (about 54.800 square meter) efficiently distributed across three levels.
The aesthetic and structural proposal has been designed by the prestigious architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SEAM), in collaboration with Ross Barney Architects, Juan Gabriel Moreno Architects (JGMA) y Arup. Its architectural concept is inspired by the historical name of the airport, Orchard Field (apple orchard); The interior will stand out for structural columns with shapes that evoke trees, eliminating walls and visual barriers to create clean spaces, high ceilings and an intuitive natural orientation for the traveler.
In the far north, The structure will house a large atrium 40 feet tall (12 meters) surmounted by an oculus or skylight, designed to bathe the lower levels with natural light and create a pleasant garden rest area.
Boarding gate configuration (sleeves)
Operational flexibility is at the core of this development. The new Concourse D will be configured as follows:
- 19 State-of-the-art boarding gates equipped with boarding gates or bridges, Initially designed for narrow-body aircraft (narrow-body).
- Conversion Flexibility: 18 of these positions will have the technical capacity to adapt or combine to become 9 doors suitable for wide-body aircraft (wide-body), allowing the airport to manage either high-capacity transcontinental operations or high-density domestic routes according to the demand of allied airlines (such as United Airlines and American Airlines).
Timeline: Key start and delivery dates
The development of Concourse D is progressing according to the deadlines stipulated by the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA):
- 2023–2024 (Preparatory phase): Ground preparation work began with the reconfiguration of the Taxiway B taxiway, the enabling of temporary lanes and the opening of three temporary gates in Concourse C to mitigate the operational impact.
- july 2025 (Start of main works): The laying of the first stone was carried out and the formal beginning of the demolition of the old paved areas.
- First semester of 2026 (Current phase): After completing nearly six months of previous excavations, Piling and deep foundation, Crews are erecting the steel structure, starting the visible vertical construction.
- Ends of 2028 (Delivery date): Full construction of Concourse D is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year 2028, at which time it will begin operating initially as an extension of the current Hall C.
Passenger services and commercial areas
The interior of the building will balance operational flows with large comfort zones that include:
- More of 20.000 square feet for VIP rooms (lounges) of airlines.
- Around 30,000 square feet dedicated to a renewed retail offering, duty free shops (duty free) and restaurants with local and global concepts.
- A specialized children's play area 450 square feet.
Concourse D sets the tone for a master plan that contemplates, for later stages, the construction of a second satellite room (Concourse E con 24 additional doors), an advanced system of underground luggage and passenger transfer tunnels, and the eventual replacement of the Terminal 2 by the great O'Hare Global Terminal. The entire program seeks to increase by 14% the total gate capacity of the airport for the next decade.
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