O’Hare Global Terminal Clears Significant Milestone

Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, and Chicago Department of Aviation Commissioner Jamie Rhee gathered at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport to announce the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Record of Decision, a key milestone that clears the way for construction for the new O’Hare Global Terminal (OGT).

“O’Hare is the lifeblood of Chicago’s economy, directly employing tens of thousands of Illinois residents and bringing more than 70 million passengers to and through our city each year,” said Mayor Lightfoot. “The next phase of work will expand O’Hare’s capacity to serve travelers and improve the customer experience, transforming it into one of the greatest airports of the 21st century.”

Studio Gang is designing the new Terminal as part of a collaborative joint venture with Solomon Cordwell Buenz, Corgan, Milhouse Engineering & Construction, Inc., and STLarchitects. The design for the new O’Hare Global Terminal (OGT) celebrates Chicago’s history as a city shaped by lines of movement and extends that legacy for the 21st century. Like the confluence of the Chicago River, the design’s converging three branches create a central hub that establishes a vibrant new neighborhood in the heart of O’Hare’s campus.

The O’Hare Global Terminal is one of the most significant terminal developments in America, and upon completion will more than double the space of the existing Terminal 2. It will also support international and domestic operations for United Airlines and American Airlines, the airport’s two hub carriers. Work on the existing Terminal 2 is scheduled to begin in 2026. The OGT is targeting a completion date of 2030.