{"id":95618,"date":"2025-08-20T01:07:23","date_gmt":"2025-08-20T01:07:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/95618\/"},"modified":"2025-08-20T01:07:23","modified_gmt":"2025-08-20T01:07:23","slug":"concourse-d-by-som-at-chicago-ohare-airport-begins-construction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/95618\/","title":{"rendered":"concourse D by SOM at chicago o’hare airport begins construction"},"content":{"rendered":"

Building concourse D at chicago\u2019s o\u2019hare airport by SOM<\/p>\n

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The City of Chicago announces the start of the construction on the SOM<\/a>-designed Concourse D at O\u2019Hare International Airport<\/a> in Chicago. The project, which was first proposed<\/a> in 2019, represents the first building in the ORDNext expansion program, as part of the airport\u2019s Terminal Area Plan, with Skidmore, Owings & Merrill leading the design team alongside Ross Barney Architects, Juan Gabriel Moreno Architects, and Arup. The facility is expected to function as one of the country\u2019s first domestic-international codeshare concourses, and at the time of publishing, the construction completion is scheduled for late 2028.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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The design centers around a multi-level space with an oculus that brings daylight to lower floors. This central area serves as the primary arrival point for passengers from the Concourse C bridge and the underground tunnel to the future O\u2019Hare Global Terminal. The floor\u2019s layout uses curved lines inspired by oxbow bends in Midwestern rivers, and these curves define zones for rest, dining, retail, and play areas. Landscaped sections organize the space into distinct amenity zones using colors, textures, and plantings from Midwestern landscapes.<\/p>\n

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all images courtesy of SOM<\/a><\/p>\n

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Reimagining the Passenger Experience at O\u2019Hare<\/p>\n

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As a major step in the ambitious O\u2019Hare 21 capital program, the new Concourse D is designed to welcome and serve more than 80 million passengers each year. New renderings offer a first glimpse into the architectural vision for the concourse\u2019s dynamic, passenger-centric public spaces, designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), a global practice<\/a> of architects, designers, engineers, and planners, founded in Chicago in 1936.<\/p>\n

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\u2018Our vision for the new Concourse D considers the entire passenger journey from curb to gate,\u2019 says SOM Design Partner Scott Duncan. \u2018From 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\u2019Hare.\u2019<\/p>\n

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architectural rendering of the Concourse D at O\u2019Hare International Airport<\/p>\n

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A Design Inspired by Nature and an Authentic Sense of Place<\/p>\n

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At the heart of the concourse is a multi-level space with an oculus that brings daylight to the lower floors. This central area serves as the primary arrival point for passengers from the Concourse C bridge and the underground tunnel to the future O\u2019Hare Global Terminal, orienting them as they enter. The floor plan is shaped by soft, curved lines inspired by the oxbow bends of Midwestern rivers, which define zones for rest, dining, retail, and play. Landscaped areas further organize the space into distinct amenity zones, using a palette of colors, textures, and plantings drawn from the native landscapes of the Midwest. An airline club lounge on the upper floor offers elevated views of the gates.<\/p>\n

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The concourse\u2019s design integrates a structural system that minimizes vertical supports, utilizing branching columns inspired by the orchards that once gave the airport its name. This design improves sightlines and opens up views across the concourse. The roof\u2019s contours and overhangs are tuned to the Midwest climate to help regulate temperature, while the minimized structure reduces embodied carbon. At the southern end of the concourse, a bright, open area with a double-height glazed wall offers expansive views of the airfield and the Chicago skyline. This space, flanked by six gate lounges, is envisioned as a calm, light-filled retreat with varied seating options, including larger benches for groups, caf\u00e9-style tables for quick meals, and raised seating with counters for a comfortable workspace.<\/p>\n

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rendering showing the exterior of the Concourse D<\/p>\n

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designed to serve more than 80 million passengers each year<\/p>\n

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construction completion is scheduled for late 2028<\/p>\n

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project info:\u00a0<\/p>\n

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name: Concurse D
leading design: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill<\/a> (SOM) | @skidmoreowingsmerrill<\/a><\/p>\n

location: O\u2019Hare International Airport, Chicago
cooperating architects: Ross Barney Architects<\/a> | @r_barc<\/a>, Juan Gabriel Moreno Architects<\/a> | @jgma_insta<\/a>, and Arup<\/a> | @arupgroup<\/a>
construction completion: 2028<\/p>\n