O’Hare Airport’s $1.3bn Terminal D Project Underway

Construction is finally underway on O’Hare International Airport (ORD)’s $1.3 billion Terminal D — the first major concourse addition in more than 30 years at one of the world’s busiest airports.

The project, known as Terminal D, is being managed by a joint venture of AECOM Hunt Clayco Bowa under a construction manager-at-risk contract. 

It forms part of the wider ORD Next programme, a long-term modernisation effort designed to prepare O’Hare for passenger growth and future demands.

Announcing the start of work, Chicago Department of Aviation commissioner Michael McMurray said: “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.” 

McMurray joined Mayor Brandon Johnson and aviation leaders at the site to mark the milestone.

The design of Terminal D has been led by New York architecture practice Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, with contributions from Chicago-based Ross Barney Architects and JGMA, as well as London-based Arup. 

The concourse will feature a striking tree-like structure, inspired by the apple orchard that once occupied the land, creating open spaces, natural sightlines, and an easier wayfinding for travellers.

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The new facility will add 19 gates, primarily for narrow-body aircraft. Eighteen of these can be adapted into nine larger gates capable of handling wide-body planes. 

Beyond its aviation capacity, Terminal D will also provide more than 20,000 square feet of lounge space, 30,000 square feet of retail and dining areas, and a children’s play zone.

In addition to the terminal, about $300 million is being invested in upgrades behind the scenes, including a new central cooling plant, improved airfield pavement, and utility work to prepare for the future Concourse E.

Terminal D is the first of two satellite concourses planned under ORD Next. Other headline projects in the programme include replacing Terminal 2 with the O’Hare Global Terminal, constructing the 24-gate Concourse E, and building an underground tunnel to link the expanded facilities.

The project is expected to provide a significant boost to Chicago’s construction sector — and the broader economy — creating more than 3,800 jobs. 

Vertical construction is scheduled to begin in early 2026, with completion targeted for 2028.

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