Construction has officially begun on O’Hare International Airport’s $1.3 billion Terminal D, the first major new concourse at the airport in more than three decades.

The project broke ground Monday, according to an Aug. 18 announcement from Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office. Managed by a joint venture of AECOM Hunt Clayco Bowa, the massive undertaking is a centerpiece of O’Hare’s ongoing modernization plan designed to expand capacity and improve the passenger experience.

“By breaking ground on Concourse D, we are taking a critical first step toward enhancing how the airport welcomes and serves more than 80 million passengers each year,” said Michael McMurray, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Aviation, during the ceremony. He joined the mayor, city officials, and aviation leaders to celebrate the milestone.

Design and Features

The concourse was designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, working with Ross Barney Architects, JGMA, and Arup. Its architecture is inspired by the apple orchards that once occupied the site, featuring tree-like structural supports that create open, light-filled spaces with unobstructed views and intuitive wayfinding.

Terminal D will introduce 19 new gates for narrow-body aircraft, with the flexibility to reconfigure 18 of them into nine larger gates for wide-body planes. Passenger amenities will include:

• 20,000 square feet of lounge space
• 30,000 square feet of retail and dining space
• A 450-square-foot children’s play area

Infrastructure Upgrades

Alongside the new concourse, the project includes about $300 million in related infrastructure improvements. These upgrades cover a new central cooling facility in the middle of the airfield, extensive pavement reconstruction, and utility work to prepare for the upcoming 24-gate Concourse E.

Part of the “ORD Next” Modernization

Terminal D is one of several major projects under ORD Next, the airport’s $8.5 billion modernization program. Other initiatives include:

• Replacing the aging Terminal 2 with the new O’Hare Global Terminal
• Constructing the 24-gate Concourse E
• Building a new underground tunnel to link expanded concourses and improve connectivity

Job Creation and Timeline

The project is expected to create over 3,800 construction jobs, offering a significant boost to Chicago’s construction and skilled trades workforce. Vertical construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2026, with the full concourse slated for completion in 2028.

Mayor Johnson emphasized that the investment in O’Hare is about both immediate benefits and long-term growth:
“This is about preparing Chicago’s global gateway for the future. Terminal D will make O’Hare more efficient, more welcoming, and more competitive for decades to come,” he said.

Originally reported by Julie Strupp in Construction Dive.