This project involved the comprehensive replacement of most of the glass in the barrel‑vault skylights and flat/low‑sloped roof areas at O’Hare’s Terminal 1 Concourses B and C, upgrading to new, more energy‑efficient glazing and metal panels. The work also included repairing joint sealants throughout these concourses, all completed within fully operating terminals and United’s back‑of‑house areas.
Safety
Construction took place during regular daytime hours, which required rigorous protection measures for passengers and staff moving through the concourses. The team installed an OSHA‑compliant fall‑protection netting system at concourse level, supplemented with heavy‑duty debris netting to create a secondary barrier against falling materials. This approach allowed glass replacement work to proceed overhead while maintaining safe public circulation below.
Existing Conditions Reuse
Rather than fully demolishing the existing skylight structure, the team developed a solution that reused the original framing system. A new framing system was engineered and installed on top of the existing skylight framing, providing a mounting surface for the new glass. This strategy enabled large sections of the new framing to be built in place before any glass was removed, significantly streamlining the sequence of glass removal and replacement and improving overall efficiency.
