O’Hare International Airport – Concourse D

Client City Of Chicago
Expertise Airports, Interiors, Structural Engineering, Sustainable Engineering
Location Chicago, Illinois, United States

Marking the largest expansion in O’Hare’s history, Concourse D elevates the passenger experience through structural innovation, material efficiency, and a focus on human comfort.

Project Facts

Status Design In Progress
Size Building Gross Area: 901,822 square feet
Collaborators

Rubinos & Mesia Engineers, Inc. Facet Engineering David Mason & Associates - Chicago Ross Barney Architects Omni Ecosystems Altusworks Inc. Gwen Grossman Lighting Design Dynasty Group, Inc. Site Design Group, Ltd. JGMA Terra Engineering, Ltd Milhouse Engineering and Construction Inc Carol Naughton + Associates, Inc. CCS International, Inc. Virtual Energy Solutions Arup - Chicago Atelier Ten Aero Systems Engineering Gannett Fleming, Inc. BNP Associates Inc. Jensen Hughes Lerch Bates Entro Terracon Argus Rowan Williams Davies & Irwin Inc. (RWDI) AtkinsRealis Amanda Williams Applied Research Associates, Inc.

Project Facts

Status Design In Progress
Size Building Gross Area: 901,822 square feet
Collaborators

Rubinos & Mesia Engineers, Inc. Facet Engineering David Mason & Associates - Chicago Ross Barney Architects Omni Ecosystems Altusworks Inc. Gwen Grossman Lighting Design Dynasty Group, Inc. Site Design Group, Ltd. JGMA Terra Engineering, Ltd Milhouse Engineering and Construction Inc Carol Naughton + Associates, Inc. CCS International, Inc. Virtual Energy Solutions Arup - Chicago Atelier Ten Aero Systems Engineering Gannett Fleming, Inc. BNP Associates Inc. Jensen Hughes Lerch Bates Entro Terracon Argus Rowan Williams Davies & Irwin Inc. (RWDI) AtkinsRealis Amanda Williams Applied Research Associates, Inc.

A new era for O’Hare International Airport

The new Concourse D is the first new building to be constructed in the City of Chicago’s ambitious ORDNext Plan—representing a generational investment in the future of O’Hare International Airport. Designed by SOM with Ross Barney Architects, Juan Gabriel Moreno Architects (JGMA), and Arup, this bright, modern concourse leads the largest area expansion and revitalization in the airport’s 68-year history.

The design draws inspiration from O’Hare’s original name, Orchard Field, a reference to its formerly bucolic site. This history is expressed through a series of dramatic “tree columns” that branch outward to support a 150-foot-wide long-span roof. The structural system reduces the number of interior columns by nearly half, opening the plan to improve flexibility at the gates and ease circulation for millions of passengers each year.

An elevated passenger experience

As one of Chicago’s first domestic-international codeshare concourses, Concourse D is built for adaptability—accommodating a wide range of aircraft types while improving efficiency for both carriers and passengers. The international arrivals corridor is suspended above the concourse floor, allowing arriving and departing travelers to move securely and intuitively without crossing paths.

Gate lounges—among the largest at O’Hare—are designed with visibility, clarity, and comfort in mind. Natural materials, warm lighting, and acoustically responsive surfaces work together to create a calm, welcoming atmosphere, even in one of the nation’s busiest travel hubs.

Bright, verdant public spaces

At the heart of the concourse, a domed, multi-level space centers on a large oculus that brings daylight deep into the interior. This node, the primary arrival point from the Concourse C bridge or a new underground tunnel to the future O’Hare Global Terminal, serves as a clear and welcoming threshold. Soft, curved lines—inspired by the oxbow bends of Midwestern rivers—shape zones for rest, dining, shopping, and play. Landscaped areas define amenity zones with colors, textures, and plantings drawn from the region’s natural beauty, while an airline club lounge on the upper floor offers elevated views of the connecting gates.

At the south end, a double-height glazed wall frames expansive views of the airfield and Chicago skyline. This light-filled retreat, flanked by six gate lounges and two concession zones, offers travelers a range of settings—from planted seating areas and café tables to raised counters with charging stations—supporting moments of connection, focus, or relaxation before departure.

Climate-responsive design

Tailored to the Midwest climate, the new concourse prioritizes environmental performance and passenger comfort. The expressive branching structure and sculpted roof form work together to reduce material use—cutting overall steel quantities and glazing area by up to 70 percent compared to conventional box profiles. These efficiencies significantly lower embodied carbon while improving thermal performance and daylight control.

The roof’s curved profile also minimizes solar heat gain, reduces east-west glare, and maximizes daylight autonomy—enabling over 90 percent of occupied areas to operate without artificial lighting during the day. High-efficiency mechanical systems and advanced energy modeling further contribute to a resilient, climate-conscious design.

We designed the new Concourse D to create a frictionless experience for travelers, on par with the best airports in the world. The gate lounges feature column-free expanses for easy wayfinding, high ceilings to improve views and air circulation, and a daylighting strategy to help align the body’s natural rhythms–all to make the experience of air travel more pleasurable.

Scott Duncan, Design Partenr