Report sourced from an article by Dan Symonds on Passenger Terminal Today.
Denver International Airport in Colorado, has kicked-off construction work on its US$780m Great Hall renovation project. The proposal aims to enhance security, provide a more flexible check-in space and add new dining and shopping options. The improvements planned for levels five and six will also increase capacity of the terminal, update the aging facility and improve the overall passenger experience.
Located under the tents of the airport’s Jeppesen Terminal, the Great Hall encompasses 1,5000,000ft² and was originally designed to accommodate 50 million passengers annually.
“When the airport opened in 1995, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) didn’t exist and passenger expectations of an airport were vastly different,” said Kim Day, CEO of Denver International Airport.
“Today, the Great Hall is well above its design capacity of 50 million passengers and is filled with noisy passenger screening operations and has no space in which to accommodate growth.
“The Great Hall Project will reconfigure and better utilize the existing space in the terminal to create a safer, more efficient and better travel experience while returning the Great Hall to its original purpose of a travelers’ oasis.”
Specifically, the project will enhance safety and security by relocating the TSA screening checkpoints from Level 5 to Level 6 and implementing new automated security lanes; increase capacity of the terminal to accommodate future growth to 80 million passengers; make better use of technology and space in airline check-in areas; create a new meet/greet area at the south end of the terminal; develop a new international passenger welcome center; improve food and retail offerings; increase curbside drop-off capacity; and upgrade infrastructure and systems in the terminal, including heating and cooling systems, escalators, elevators, restrooms and security.
Denver Mayor Michael B Hancock, said, “As the state’s largest economic engine, we must continue to invest in the airport for both today and tomorrow. This project will create a terminal for the future allowing Denver to accommodate its continued growth while competing on the global stage with some of the best airports and cities around the world.”