(CHICAGO) O’Hare International Airport is moving ahead with the first major building in its Terminal Area Plan, with work on Satellite Concourse 1 well underway and a target opening in 2028. The project will extend Concourse C and add 19 new gates, part of the broader O’Hare 21 program that will lift total gate capacity by about 25% and add a second customs and immigration checkpoint to improve arrivals. City officials say the multi-phase plan will reshape how domestic and international passengers move through the airport and help airlines reduce delays and transfer times.
Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) with Ross Barney Architects, Juan Gabriel Moreno Architects (JGMA), and Arup, The concourse draws on O’Hare’s original Orchard Field name. The team uses dramatic “tree columns” to hold a long-span roof, cutting the number of interior columns by nearly half to make walking, boarding, and operations easier. The gate lounges are planned to be among the largest at O’Hare, with warm materials and tuned acoustics to reduce noise. The layout supports both domestic and international operations under one roof, allowing secure, simple flows where arriving and departing passengers do not cross paths.
The building puts a strong focus on energy and climate goals. The roof profile reduces steel and glass by up to 70% compared to common designs, which lowers the building’s embodied carbon and improves thermal performance. Designers aim for daylight autonomy in over 90% of occupied areas to cut the need for artificial lighting, and the mechanical systems are planned for high efficiency to support long-term resilience. The airport expects these choices to hold down operating costs while making the passenger experience brighter and calmer.
Construction began in March 2023, supported by temporary taxiways, road changes, and a set of temporary gates off Concourse C. Some of those gates opened in spring 2024, keeping United and American operations moving during heavy work. The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) is managing the build and funding, with city bond documents showing an updated schedule and budget adjustments tied to inflation and materials costs. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the city and its airline partners continue to pace the project to keep flights running while crews carry out the most complex terminal work.
Design and passenger flow
The concourse’s flexible design is intended to give airlines more choices, especially during peak periods and irregular operations. Larger gate areas, fewer interior columns, and wider circulation paths should help with boarding, deplaning, and quick turns.
The codeshare-ready layout matters for alliance operations, as O’Hare’s hubs aim to place partner airlines closer together. That plan aligns with the future Global Terminal’s alliance-centric model, which will group international and domestic partners to shorten walks and reduce missed connections.
For international arrivals, the planned second customs and immigration checkpoint is meant to reduce bottlenecks and make it easier to enter the United States. Families, students, and workers who connect to domestic flights at O’Hare should see shorter lines and more predictable transfer times. Airlines stand to gain from better gate balance across fleets, with the ability to place regional jets and widebodies more efficiently as schedules shift through the day.
Passenger spaces emphasize comfort with daylight, natural finishes, and careful sound control. These design choices help long layovers feel less tiring and aid intuitive wayfinding. With high-efficiency systems and materials that cut excess heat and glare, the concourse intends to save energy while maintaining steady temperatures through Chicago’s seasonal swings.
Key design takeaways: fewer columns, more daylight, larger gate lounges, and layout that supports both domestic and international flows without arriving and departing passengers crossing paths.
Phasing, timeline, and stakeholders
In May 2024, Mayor Brandon Johnson and the airlines agreed to a revised sequence that moves Satellite Concourse 1 first, followed by the Global Terminal and then Satellite Concourse 2.
Important schedule milestones:
1. Satellite Concourse 1 — construction underway; major milestones through 2025; target opening 2028.
2. Global Terminal (designed by Studio Gang) — construction start planned for 2026; scheduled completion 2032.
3. Satellite Concourse 2 and connecting tunnel with a people mover — planned for 2034.
The overall program is part of O’Hare 21, the city’s $8.5 billion redevelopment that also includes airfield and terminal upgrades.
Key stakeholders:
– City of Chicago and the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) — funding, management, and operations continuity
– Airlines (notably United and American) — coordinating gate operations and phasing
– Design teams — SOM, Ross Barney Architects, JGMA, Arup, and Studio Gang for the Global Terminal
– Construction partners — including Plote Construction for select work scopes
City bond disclosures and CDA publications outline timelines, budget adjustments tied to inflation and materials costs, and the phased approach used to reduce disruption.
Nearby and supporting work
Broader work around O’Hare supports the main terminal plan:
– Terminal 5 expansion completed in 2023, increasing international capacity.
– Terminal 3’s Concourse L expansion expected in 2024, adding gates and passenger services.
– Airfield improvements are staged to keep aircraft moving during peak bank periods and to support the terminal build-out.
The CDA is balancing construction with daily operations by using temporary taxiways, temporary gates (some opened in spring 2024), and adjusted roadways. Travelers can expect shifting work zones and changing gate assignments as new areas open and others close for construction.
Project goals and near-term effects
The project’s core objectives:
– Add gates to meet growth and reduce delays.
– Speed and simplify transfers for both domestic and international travelers.
– Place alliance partners closer together to support through-ticketing and baggage
Frequently Asked Questions
This Article in a Nutshell
O’Hare’s Satellite Concourse 1, under construction since March 2023, adds 19 gates and opens in 2028. SOM and partners use tree columns, larger lounges, and daylighting to cut embodied carbon up to 70%. A second customs checkpoint and phased O’Hare 21 plan aim to reduce delays and speed transfers.
