Dive Brief:
- Dallas Fort Worth International Airport started the major construction works of its oldest and busiest terminal on August 29, according to a statement from the airport. The $3 billion Terminal C project will modernize and expand the building, adding more gates and passenger services.
- The designers of the first phase and expansion of Terminal C, as well as the expansion of Terminal A, are a joint venture consisting of Dallas-based Austin Commercial and Azteca Enterprises, as well as Carrollton-based Alpha & Omega , Texas. New York City-based HOK and Chicago-based Muller & Muller make up the design team.
- The event also marked the start of the airport’s nearly $9 billion improvement plan, DFW Forward, its largest capital investment since it opened in 1974. It will transform terminals, add new facilities and gates, will upgrade the airfield and improve roads and connectivity, according to the release.
Diving knowledge:
Dallas Fort Worth is the the third busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic, according to Airports Council International, which serves nearly 82 million travelers annually and hosts 28 airlines.
However, the bustling facility is still in its original state from about 50 years ago, and DFW Airport General Manager Sean Donohue said Terminal C “desperately needs to be rebuilt,” according to WFAA TV Dallas Forth Worth.
The airport’s global capital program includes more than 180 projects that are in various stages of planning, development and construction, according to the release.
A sixth terminal, Terminal F, is currently underway, which will include 15 gates and a new Skylink station. The Innovation Next+ team, led by Atlanta-based Archer Western Construction, a subsidiary of Chicago-based Walsh Construction, is build the $855 million project.
“The incredible upgrades and expansions we have planned at the airport will reimagine the customer experience in many ways and provide the framework needed to support more historic growth in air travel there from North Texas,” said Donohue in the statement “As we approach serving 100 million passengers each year, it’s time for DFW to improve our legacy terminal and envision new ones.”
A better Terminal C
The works at Terminal C involve the removal of more than 400 view-blocking columns, the installation of new dynamic glass windows and the lifting of the roof. Builders will add new shops and restaurants, lounges, check-in areas, security checkpoints and improved restrooms.
At the same time, crews will expand the docks in Terminal C and Terminal A. The expansions will add 115,000 square feet and four gates to Terminal C and 140,000 square feet and five gates to Terminal A. The additional capacity will accommodate growth of passengers and will include more restaurants and shops, seating areas and restrooms.
After the first phase and the expansion, the rest of the Terminal C concourse will be demolished and rebuilt in two additional phases, according to the release. This work will allow the terminal to continue flight operations in other parts of the facility while the targeted areas undergo major construction.
Work on Terminal C is expected to be completed by 2030.
