The expansion and renovation of Terminal 5 at O’Hare International Airport is the first phase and a cornerstone of the O’Hare 21 program, a long‑term effort by the City of Chicago and partner airlines to modernize one of the world’s busiest airports. The project increased the terminal’s capacity by 25%, adding new gates and enlarging existing gate positions to accommodate larger, next‑generation international aircraft while improving overall efficiency and reducing delays.
Construction, led by the Austin Power Partners joint venture, expanded the existing building by approximately 350,000 sf and renovated an additional 750,000 sf of space. Passenger amenity areas grew by 75%, creating more room for seating, dining, and retail. The light‑filled redesign preserves the character of the original 1993 architecture, with vaulted ceilings that bring in natural light and frame views across the airfield to the Chicago skyline.
An L‑shaped East Concourse extension added 10 new wide‑body gates, nine of which use multiple aircraft ramp systems for maximum flexibility. These gates can be configured to serve larger wide‑body aircraft or re-striped to accommodate up to three narrow‑body aircraft in the same footprint, allowing the airport to adapt to changing airline fleet needs. In the western wing, 10 renovated gates opened in October 2022 as the new home for Delta Air Lines, including a new Delta Sky Club between Gates M11 and M14 that offers more than four times the capacity of the carrier’s former lounge in Terminal 2 and features direct boarding on select flights from two gates inside the club.
Across the expanded and renovated areas, Terminal 5 now offers a significantly upgraded passenger experience with a wider array of modern concessions, premium services, and amenities that reinforce O’Hare’s role as a global gateway.
Modernization of Terminal Required Upgraded Infrastructure
Behind-the-fence construction activities include work on all four levels of the occupied terminal, upgraded electrical and mechanical systems, relocated and added pedestrian bridges and construction of temporary arrival gates to minimize disruption during the multi-year phased project. This addition was designed with future flexibility in mind – the new gates will accommodate a variety of wide-body and narrow-body aircraft.
key benefits of the terminal 5 expansion & renovation include:
- 10 new gates to provide 25% more gate capacity, improving efficiency & reducing delays
- Expand the existing building by approximately 350,000 sf
- Renovate more than 300,000 sf of the existing building
- Add more airline lounge space
- Add more concessions and passenger amenities for an improved dining/shopping experience
- Enlarge, reconfigure, and refurbish interior spaces
- Integrate new furniture and new technology throughout the facility
- Expand security checkpoints
- Reconfigure and improve immigration and customs screening
- Replace the existing terminal Baggage Handling System to increase handling efficiencies
- Support various capital improvement projects to replace and upgrade mechanical systems
