The gate expansion project at the Denver International Airport in Colorado, US, was a five-year plan that increased the overall capacity at the airport by 30%.
The expansion project began in May 2018 and involved an investment of $2.5bn. It was concluded in November 2022.
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Opened in 1995, the Denver International Airport had an annual passenger capacity of 77.8 million passengers in 2023.
The expansion project enabled the airport to meet the needs of passengers and existing airline partners while also accommodating new airlines.
Denver airport gate expansion project details
The gate expansion programme involved the addition of 39 new gates and the expansion of the holdroom space, comprising passenger waiting areas at gates, across the three concourses, Concourse A, Concourse B, and Concourse C.
The Concourse A-West expansion involved the addition of 12 gates, including six for international flights, 16 new waiting areas, and additional space for support functions totalling 530,000ft², including 10,000ft² of new concessions space.
It features a new international corridor.
Expansion at Concourse B-West included four new gates, six new waiting areas, and a support area totalling 89,247ft², including 5,000ft² of new concessions space.
Concourse B-East expansion features seven new gates, including three that replaced the previous regional-size gates.
In addition, the expansion added 12 new holdrooms totalling 126,000ft2, including 6,000ft2 of new concession space.
Concourse C-East was expanded through the addition of 16 new gates and 20 new waiting areas. It expanded the concourse area by 530,000ft², including a new concessions space of 30,000ft².
Comfortable seating with charging stations, state-of-the-art restrooms, and changing rooms were incorporated into all the concourses.
Except for Concourse B-East, a new outdoor deck with mountain views, a pet relaxation area, outdoor seats, and firepits were also included in the concourses.
United Airlines leased all new gates in Concourse A-West, Concourse B-West, and Concourse B-East. Southwest Airlines was awarded the lease for all new gates in Concourse C-East.
A new commuter facility was also constructed within the project on the ramp level, below the new gates C66 and C67 in Concourse C-East, which opened in June 2022.
The commuter facility features four gates serving three regional airlines, Boutique Air, Denver Air Connection and Southern Airways Express, along with comfortable seating and charging stations.
Passengers also have access to eight new shopping and dining options on the concourse level.
Construction of new gates details
The four new gates at Concourse B-West were the first to be opened in November 2020.
Construction of the outer walls on Concourses A-West, B-East, and C-East was completed in May 2021. All three expansion areas were completely enclosed through glass curtain wall systems.
The expansion works at Concourse C-East were completed in May 2022, Concourse B-East in October 2022 and Concourse A-West in November 2022.
Additional gates expansion project details
Denver airport will expand Concourse A East in four phases with 14 new ground boarding gates, along with 18,000ft2 of support space and an adjacent 8,000ft2 maintenance facility.
The Concourse A-East Frontier Ground Load Facility expansion project is being undertaken in partnership with Frontier Airlines under a ten-year agreement.
It commenced in 2022 and is set for completion in 2024.
The project involves the development of a 120,000ft2 facility along with 37,000ft2 of new construction and 83,000ft2 of remodelling, located on the east end of Concourse A.
The new building area will be built with concrete masonry units and steel.
The new Frontier facility at the airport will feature escalators and elevators connecting customers from existing Concourse A to the new ground-level facility, customer-centric amenities such as dedicated charging stations, a lactation room, and a pet relief area, along with food and retail options.
It will also feature air stairs and switchback ramps for each aircraft to facilitate dual door boarding and deplaning and dedicated support spaces such as break rooms and offices.
The expansion will enable Frontier Airlines to handle more passengers and provide modern amenities and quicker boarding times.
Sustainability features
The Concourse B-West expansion achieved the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification in December 2021.
It became the fifth building at the airport to obtain a LEED certification.
The expansion project incorporated an energy-efficient design that uses approximately 30% less energy, compared to a typical concourse¸ with 40% less artificial interior lighting, and increased natural daylight.
The concourse also features glass technology to decrease solar heat gain.
More than 90% of the waste generated onsite during the construction was recycled. The project reduced water demand by 45% through efficient plumbing installations.
Energy recovery systems are installed to use exhaust air and outdoor air efficiently.
Sensors are installed in office spaces to reduce electricity use based on occupancy. Furthermore, a solar photovoltaic array is installed on the rooftop.
Contractors involved
A joint venture between Holder Construction, a construction management services provider, and FCI Constructors, a general contracting and construction management services provider, was appointed to implement the expansion of Concourse B-East and Concourse C-East.
Turner Construction, in partnership with sister company Flatiron Construction, was selected to execute the Concourse A-West and Concourse B-West expansion works.
HNTB, an infrastructure solutions company, and Jacobs Engineering, a technical professional services company, were appointed to provide design services.
WSP, an engineering professional services business, served as the programme manager for the project.
Programme management and construction management company JWI was appointed by WSP to provide project management services.
Ambient Energy, a Mead & Hunt Company, received a contract to provide sustainability consultancy services for the Concourse B-West expansion.
Shen Milsom & Wilke, a technology and acoustic design solutions provider, was contracted to provide acoustical consulting and design services for Concourses A-West and B-East.
Apollo Mechanical Contractors, a mechanical construction and pre-construction services company, installed heating and water systems at the Concourse B-West.
Seating at the Concourse B-West gates was designed by Zoeftig, an airport seating designer and manufacturer.
HCL Engineering, an engineering company, is providing structural engineering, civil engineering, and surveying services for the Concourse A-East Frontier Ground Load Facility expansion project.
