Chicago’s O’Hare airport breaks ground on its first major new concourse in over 30 years

Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport has broken ground on Concourse D, the first major new concourse at O’Hare in over 30 years.

Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) in collaboration with Ross Barney Architects, Juan Gabriel Moreno Architects (JGMA), and Arup, Concourse D also will be the first new building of the largest expansion in O’Hare’s history.

In addition to the $1.3 billion Concourse D, the program will include another new concourse, a new global terminal, and a tunnel connecting the facilities.

With a passenger-centric design, Concourse D focuses on the visitor experience from curbside arrival to the aircraft gates. One of the country’s first domestic-international codeshare concourses, Concourse D will accommodate a wide range of aircraft types and improve passenger flow.

In the center of the concourse, an oculus will provide daylight for the multi-level space. This area will be the primary arrival point for passengers coming from the Concourse C bridge or a new underground tunnel connecting to the upcoming global terminal.

Concourse D provides defined zones for rest, dining, retail, and play, as well as a club lounge on the upper floor. The design’s soft, curved lines and the landscaping’s colors, textures, and plants take inspiration from the Midwestern landscape.

The structural system reduces vertical supports and opens up views thanks to branching columns inspired by the orchards that gave O’Hare its former name of Orchard Field. The minimized structure also reduces embodied carbon, while the roof’s contours and overhangs help regulate temperature.

At the southern end of the concourse, a double-height glazed wall offers views of the airfield and the distant Chicago skyline. A calm, light-filled retreat, the space features six gate lounges and two concession zones.

“From skylit spaces to orchard-inspired columns, every element contributes to a bright, easy-to-navigate environment designed to elevate the travel experience and leave a lasting impression of O’Hare,” SOM Design Partner Scott Duncan said in a statement.

The Concourse D project is on budget and schedule, with completion expected in late 2028, according to SOM. Planning is also underway for Concourse E, designed by the same team.

On the project team: The City of Chicago (owner); Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) with Ross Barney Architects, Juan Gabriel Moreno Architects (JGMA) (design architects); SOM with Arup and Rubinos & Mesia Engineering (RME), Inc. (structural engineers); AECOM Hunt Clayco Bowa (general contractors).