2025 Mountain States Best Projects
Project of the Year Finalist, Airport/Transit: Denver International Airport - United Airlines Concourse B Gates of the Future
Denver International Airport - United Airlines Concourse B Gates of the Future
Denver
PROJECT OF THE YEAR FINALIST and BEST PROJECT, AIRPORT/TRANSIT
Submitted by Swinerton
Owner: Denver International Airport; United Airlines
Lead Design Firm: HNTB Corp.
General Contractor: Swinerton
Electrical Engineer: Corey Electrical
Interior Architect: Gallun Snow Associates
Denver International Airport’s Vision 100 is a plan for responsible growth as it prepares to accommodate an anticipated total 100 million passengers by the end of this decade. In fall 2022, to align itself with the airport’s growth and as part of a nationwide program to modernize its footprint at the eight U.S. hubs from which it operates, United Airlines launched an ambitious project to enhance the customer experience within Concourse B and the airport’s South Finger regional gates.
Swinerton developed a plan centered on the project’s biggest challenge: constructing inside one of the world’s busiest airports without disrupting operations and passenger travel—including no impacts to access or operations of its 47 existing gates. Digital X-ray technology and quality control efforts ensured there were no hits to existing infrastructure during the project.
Photo courtesy Swinerton / The Unfound Door
The new design complements the airport’s simple, modern West aesthetic with pops of its iconic ultraviolet purple and fresh white paint that replaces the former gray. The revamped gates feature strengthened Wi-Fi and plug-and-play outlets at all seating, which varies from tables for businesspeople or small groups to high tops and barstools that overlook the windows to curved banks of seats that provide a more insular experience, ideal for families needing to keep an eye on each other.
Photo courtesy Swinerton / The Unfound Door
The project replaced outdated furniture and features with modern, more welcoming options, including furniture with in-seat power, seamlessly blended ADA-compliant elements, new technology and self-service kiosks. To renovate each gate, all carpet flooring, seating, podiums, barriers, equipment and other items were removed and replaced with new wall panels, metal base, painting, carpet, seating, chairs, tables and work areas. New passenger guidance barriers, dynamic queuing signs, flight information displays, self-service kiosks and new gate podiums were also installed. Although ADA requirements call for 5% of seating to be accessible, the project achieved up to 7%.
Photo courtesy Swinerton / The Unfound Door
Denver’s airport is on a mission to become one of the greenest airports in the world, and sustainability was considered across all aspects of the project. The existing carpet was recycled, and most of the existing seating and technology elements were either repurposed or recycled. All finishes were also vetted for sustainability and resiliency. Recyclable solid surface panels were installed, walls were painted with low-VOC paint and new carpeting consists of low-VOC carpet tiles.
The Swinerton team created a project-specific quality tracker in PowerBI, and this proprietary tracking program allowed the contractor to methodically trace each quality-related task, constructibility reviews, first-work inspections and punch list items. As a result of these efforts, the project was delivered early, under budget, without an injury or lost-time incident and without a single flight delay or cancellation.
