the city of chicago has announced the winning entry for the international competition to design the new global terminal and concourse for o’hare international airport. studio ORD, a collaborative effort led by jeanne gang, presents a design that celebrates the american city’s continued legacy as a city shaped by lines of movement. like the confluence of the chicago river, the design’s converging three branches generate a centralized hub that establishes a vibrant new neighborhood in the heart of o’hare’s campus. curving to increase efficiency, wayfinding, and connectivity, the three-part form merges terminal and concourse into a single building. the design held off competition from other big names, including santiago calatrava, SOM, and foster + partners.
all images courtesy of studio ORD
studio ORD represents the collaboration led by studio gang in partnership with solomon cordwell buenz (SCB), corgan, milhouse engineering and construction, and STL architects. the tripartite proposal was designed to reflect the legacy of the great city. at the confluence of the three branches, a dramatic oculus welcomes visitors under a six-pointed glass skylight whose geometry references the chicago flag. beneath the oculus is a vibrant new neighborhood which unfolds around an expansive central green. evocative of a lively chicago street, the space can support pop-up events, music, and informal gathering. when seen from above, the building greets passengers with a recognizable chicago icon — the city’s ‘Y symbol,’ or municipal device, that represents the branching chicago river.
a pleated roof of long-span steel trusses is clad in wood and maximizes natural daylight and energy efficiency. this roof, surrounding the oculus, is supported by Y-shaped columns spaced over 100 feet apart that distribute the structural load to maximize circulation and ensure flexibility to accommodate changes over the terminal’s lifespan. a light-filled mezzanine above the concourse houses ticketing and security for departing passengers. culminating in a dramatic overlook, the mezzanine offers expansive views of the airfield beyond and of the neighborhood and gates below, helping passengers orient themselves and heightening the excitement of travel.
jeanne gang, founding principal of studio gang and lead designer of studio ORD comments: ‘every aspect of the design is focused on creating a uniquely chicago experience. it embodies the city’s fundamental geographic asset: a place of convergence of paths of movement both natural and manmade. our design creates a new chicago neighborhood that reflects the culture, traditions, and diversity of the city. its exposed structure, interior streets, and bustling activity express our city’s trajectory as a center of movement, exchange, and growth.’
project info:
competition: o’hare international airport global terminal and concourse expansion
architecture: studio ORD
team: studio gang in partnership with solomon cordwell buenz (SCB), corgan, milhouse engineering and construction, and STL architects
location: chicago, illinois
airport architecture and design (105 articles)
zaha hadid architects + COX architecture win bid to build the new western sydney airport
zaha hadid architects' daxing airport with the world's largest terminal opens in beijing
foster + partners and grimshaw among firms to share proposals for new airport in poland
architecture in chicago (42 articles)
architecture in the US (820 articles)
jeanne gang / studio gang architects (45 articles)
architecture news
TOP 10 private houses of 2019
#architecture
we continue our annual round up of the year’s BIG stories with a look at ten residential dwellings and private spaces featured on designboom in 2019.
we continue our annual round up of the year’s BIG stories with a look at ten residential dwellings and private spaces featured on designboom in 2019.
niko architect weaves organic, futuristic house into artificial landscape in moscow
#architecture
developed from the outside in, the residence is interwoven with the surrounding landscape.
developed from the outside in, the residence is interwoven with the surrounding landscape.
zaha hadid architects completes changsha meixihu international culture & arts centre
#architecture
the spectacular complex in china comprises a contemporary art museum, an 1,800-seat theatre, and a multipurpose hall.
the spectacular complex in china comprises a contemporary art museum, an 1,800-seat theatre, and a multipurpose hall.
david adjaye and daniel boyd to shelter new sydney plaza with giant perforated canopy
#architecture
influenced by aboriginal dot painting, the overhead canopy features multiple, randomly scattered, circular, mirror-lined openings.
influenced by aboriginal dot painting, the overhead canopy features multiple, randomly scattered, circular, mirror-lined openings.