Sneak peek: Inside the new — and stunning — DIA
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
A rendering of Level 5 South at Denver International Airport. Image: Courtesy of Denver International Airport
Denver International Airport CEO Phil Washington is promising to wrap the roughly $2 billion Great Hall renovation ahead of schedule — by the end of 2027 — and has revealed new renderings of the finished product.
Why it matters: An end is in sight for the massive, yearslong project, which has been marred by mismanagement, upended travelers' experiences and caused customer satisfaction to slip.
The big picture: The project was slated for completion in 2028, but officials say finishing sooner is crucial to keep pace with surging demand.
- Passenger traffic is expected to jump from 82.3 million to 100 million by 2027 — years ahead of previous forecasts.
What they're saying: "When the entire project is complete in 2027, it will have been delivered on time and under budget," Washington pledged in a statement.
Zoom in: Renderings released Tuesday reveal the Great Hall renovation will feature three distinct zones:
🌎 The Global Gateway: On the north end of Level 5, there will be eight new security lanes for international connections.
🏔️ Welcome Home, Colorado: The center of Level 5 will be dedicated to domestic arrivals, with ample seating, a large flight information board, a centralized info booth, and spots to grab gifts and coffee.
🛋️ The Living Room: At the south end of Level 5, where the south security checkpoint is now, there will be a "high-energy space" with four security lanes enclosed in a structure flanked by a bar, as well as a food court above the lanes.
- The space will be anchored by the airport's massive, $3.6 million public artwork — a 60-foot sculpture of a cottonwood tree made of more than 30,000 crystals.
- An entertainment space under the tree will showcase live music.
The bottom line: Few airports get a chance to fully "reimagine" their main terminal for today's and tomorrow's travelers, Washington said. But the Great Hall project "is allowing us to do just that."
Go deeper: The future Great Hall through video