Superstructure expansion at O’ Hare’s Terminal 5

Chicago has issued an $83.25 million permit for the superstructure expansion at O’Hare’s Terminal 5. The Chicago’s O’Hare Airport is facing some of it lightest traffic in recent history due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but this hasn’t stopped work on the Terminal 5 expansion. The city has given an $83.25 million permit for the “superstructure of east expansion for proposed Terminal 5 expansion”.

The Terminal 5 project has an overall cost of $1.2 billion. It is designed by  HOK and Muller and Muller Inc. The project will result in more than 300,000 sq. ft. of additional space. Austin Power Partners from Dallas, Tx is the general contractor. The key subtrades are Electrical – Hartmann Electric Company; masonry – Rosemont Masonry Corp; and plumber/plumbing – F.E. Moran, Inc.

O’Hare 21 program’s first phase and key component is the expansion and renovation of Terminal 5. The O’Hare 21 program is the city’s and airlines efforts to modernize one of the world’s most-traveled airports. HOK said on its website, “It will increase the terminal’s capacity by 25 percent, adding new gates and upgrading existing gate sizes to accommodate the larger aircraft used for international flights.”

The Terminal 5 work is itself part of the bigger “O’Hare 21” modernization effort. The entire program is worth $8.5 billion. It initiated in 2017 with a five-gate addition to Terminal 3. HOK says, “Opening up Terminal 5 to amenities provided in other areas of O’Hare, improving airline clubs, enhancing shopping and dining space, and designing a clear wayfinding system will create a more comfortable experience for passengers.”

They added, “The project also is adding four new security lanes to the checkpoint and improving immigration facilities. The 25-year-old baggage handling system will be fully modernized by 2022.”