Denver International Airport (DEN) officials this week joined Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and other stakeholders in celebrating the completion of Phase 1 of the airport’s Great Hall Project.
This first phase renovated the center portion of Jeppesen Terminal on levels 5 and 6 to create new check-in space for United, Southwest and eventually Frontier airlines. The renovations also created a more modern check-in experience and added capacity in the terminal, improving operational efficiency.
All told the first phase created an additional 31,000 square feet of space for the Jeppesen Terminal, as well as 158,500 square feet of newly renovated space while improving the passenger experience thanks to upgraded ticketing areas that include kiosks for check-in and 86 automated self-bag-drop units.
DEN CEO Phil Washington credited architecture and design firm Hensel Phelps for its work on the project, adding “Since hiring Hensel Phelps, we have met every milestone and are on schedule and under budget. This first phase was most impactful as we were working in the center of the terminal. These walls are now coming down, making it much easier for passengers to navigate the terminal, just in time for the busy holiday travel season.”’
In addition to opening the new ticketing areas on each side of the terminal, the walls in the center of the terminal on Level 5 will be removed by Nov. 1, allowing passengers to traverse from north to south in the without detours. The remaining walls in the center of Level 6 will be removed by Nov. 4 on the east side and Nov. 10 on the west side, which will also allow passengers to walk from north to south and access all areas of the curb outside of Level 6.
“We’re excited to celebrate the Great Hall project coming to life,” said Matt Miller, United’s vice president of airport operations in Denver. “As our airline continues to grow and we work hard to remain Denver’s leading airline, we look forward to our continued partnership and collaboration with Denver International Airport as they make progress in the future phases of the Great Hall project.”
Phase 2 of the Great Hall Project broke ground this July and is anticipated to be complete in mid-2024 with the new security checkpoint opening to passengers in early 2024. Both phases will be complete within the original $770 million budget, airport officials said.
