Construction on a new concourse at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) has begun, led by Turner Construction Company. The project is part of the airport’s ongoing Terminal B/C Redevelopment Plan, “Project Journey,” a $374 million project aimed at enhancing the comfort and convenience of the passenger experience at the airport. The concourse is scheduled for completion in 2021.
Plans for the new concourse include jet bridges, hold rooms, new concessions and an American Airlines Admirals Club lounge. Construction of the new concourse will eliminate the need for travelers to ride buses from the terminal in order to board regional jets via stairways.
The new concourse will also include a two-level connector building with public circulation space, moving walkways and electric vehicle charging stations. At approximately 230,000 square feet, the concourse itself will be comprised of three levels and will contain 14 regional aircraft gates.
The concourse’s design will feature views of downtown Washington, D.C., set off by architectural elements including exposed metal beams, glass walls and domed ceilings. The design emphasizes openness and navigability in the hopes of improving wayfinding.
The airport predicts that the construction process will not significantly impact the passenger experience or flight operations, because construction activities will take place in an area once occupied by hangars and offices.
DCA’s current facilities were built to accommodate 15 million passengers annually. Last year, more than 23 million passengers utilized the airport. This put a strain on the airport’s existing infrastructure. Project Journey is designed to alleviate that strain.
“We are proud to play such a critical role in [Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority’s] journey to transform the passenger experience,” says Joseph Graziosi, project manager for Turner Construction. “The new concourse will also offer a brighter and more modern environment, with improved sight lines between concession areas and gates. This gives travelers the ability to easily and directly see the status of flights.”
