Chicago Construction News staff writer
The design of Satellite Concourse 1, part of the O’Hare 21 Terminal Area Plan expansion and modernization project was unveiled last week.
Satellite Concourse 1 and the related infrastructure projects are expected to create more than 3,800 construction jobs. The city selected a joint venture of AECOM, Hunt Construction Group, Clayco, and Bowa Construction as the general contractor.
“Chicago’s airports play a critical role in the country’s aviation system and our local economy, impacting more than 700,000 jobs across the region and contributing more than $70 billion in economic activity,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “Moving on to the next phase of O’Hare expansion has required a full force of government approach, led by my administration, from our federal leaders and legislators to the team at the Chicago Department of Aviation, and I look forward to continuing this work with our airline partners as we build the O’Hare of tomorrow together.”
Architectural design was completed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) with Ross Barney Architects, Juan Gabriel Moreno Architects (JGMA), and Arup.
“We designed the new satellite concourse to create a frictionless experience for travelers, on par with the best airports in the world,” said SOM Design Partner Scott Duncan. “The gate lounges feature column-free expanses for easy wayfinding, high ceilings to optimize views, and a daylighting strategy to help align the body’s natural rhythms — all to make the experience of air travel more pleasurable.”
Construction will add 19 new gates to one the nation’s busiest airports. Work began in March 2023 with construction of several temporary taxiways and a new grade-separated roadway, reconfiguration of Taxiway B, and construction of three new temporary gates off Concourse C.
An agreement with O’Hare’s hub carriers announced earlier this month will prioritize design, construction and delivery of the O’Hare Global Terminal to bring forward its benefits to the traveling public sooner. Design and engineering experts retained by the CDA, and its diverse team of contractors are actively working to progress the design and review the timeline for the O’Hare Global Terminal and Satellite Concourse 2 to meet the terms of this agreement, and the City will share the results of that work over the next six to 12 months.
Work begins this summer on a stormwater project that will support the future elimination of a detention basin west of the future satellite concourse to an expanded basin on the southeast end of the airfield.
