O'Hare International Airport | SOM - Skidmore Owings & Merrill

Inspired by the orchard that gave O’Hare its original name (“Orchard Field”), a tree-like structural system inside the Concourse eliminates almost half the columns at the gates, reducing congestion and enabling more efficient boarding and improved visibility for passengers.

The modern design is uniquely tuned to the climate of the Midwest, finding efficiencies that prioritize wellbeing while also improving environmental performance. The branching structural system reduces the embodied carbon of the building, while the building's curved roof profile minimizes heating and cooling needs, strategically overhanging to create shade during peak sun conditions while central skylights create daylit waiting areas year-round. High-performance mechanical and electrical systems further reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.

A connection from the existing Concourse C will drop passengers in an atrium, where connecting or departing passengers can relax in a garden-like setting flooded with daylight from an oculus skylight above. Carefully selected materials throughout the interior extend this natural palette, offering warmth and acoustic absorption.

Copyright: SOM and Norviska