Vertical Construction On The New Concourse D At O’Hare Begins

Mayor Brandon Johnson joined the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) and construction partners to celebrate the start of vertical construction on The New Concourse D at O’Hare International Airport, a 19-gate expansion at the world’s busiest airfield, on track for completion in late 2028.  

To commemorate the milestone, the Mayor signed a ceremonial “first beam” alongside CDA leaders and construction lead AECOM Hunt Clayco Bowa. The start of vertical construction represents a major step forward in O’Hare’s long-term modernization, advancing the development of a 580,000-square-foot concourse as part of the ORDNext program.

“As we raise the first beam, we’re reinforcing O’Hare’s role as a global hub and an engine of opportunity for Chicago,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “For over 70 years, O’Hare has been a key driver of the Chicago economy. This new phase of O’Hare’s expansion will launch the next 70 years of Chicago’s global business dominance and local career opportunities.”

The City of Chicago broke ground on the project in August 2025, and approximately 35% of the foundational work is now complete. This includes more than 90% of the deep foundation elements, known as caissons — large, reinforced concrete shafts drilled deep into the ground to provide structural support. In the coming weeks, construction crews will install a 195-foot-tall tower crane at the center of O’Hare’s airfield, marking the transition to vertical construction of the 73-foot-tall facility.

“Achieving O’Hare’s status as the world’s busiest airfield has taken years of planning,” said Aviation Commissioner Michael McMurray. “The start of vertical construction is a visible demonstration of our efforts to expand its efficiency and comfort in a fiscally responsible way.”

The New Concourse D is the first phase of the broader ORDNext program, which also includes the future Concourse E and, ultimately, a new Global Terminal that will replace Terminal 2 at O’Hare International Airport.

Beginning in spring 2026, construction will advance with a central cooling facility designed to serve all future ORDNext developments, alongside critical airfield paving and utility infrastructure to support upcoming phases. The construction team of AECOM Hunt Clayco Bowa is advancing The New Concourse D with a current construction value of $1.45 billion.

“This project creates opportunities to bring new talent into union trades with apprentice, journeyman and foreman opportunities,” said Eric Howe of AECOM Hunt Clayco Bowa. “In developing trade careers, we are assuring high-performance roles for our minority contractor partners that will have long-lasting benefits for Chicago communities.”

The New Concourse D will feature 19 gates for narrow-body aircraft, with the flexibility to convert 18 of them into nine wide-body gates as needed. Plans also include over 20,000 square feet of lounge space, 30,000 square feet of retail and dining space, and a 450-square-foot children’s play area.

Since the start of the CDA’s current capital program at O’Hare, the City of Chicago has spent more than $830 million with certified minority- and women-owned businesses, including $634 million with MBEs and $196 million with WBEs, marking an overall participation rate of 36.2%, developing rewarding careers for a highly skilled community workforce.

The New Concourse D will serve as a premier civic engine — creating thousands of construction jobs, supporting minority- and women-owned businesses, and forging direct pathways into the skilled trades and aviation careers for Chicago’s next generation. Construction bid opportunities are available at ORD21.com/bids.

​