Denver International Airport Advances Final Phase of $1.3 Billion Great Hall Project to Transform Jeppesen Terminal

Transforming the Heart of Colorado’s Global Aviation Gateway

DENVER, Colorado — Entering the decisive home stretch of one of North America's most ambitious airport modernization programs, the City and County of Denver and Denver International Airport (DEN) are accelerating construction on the final phase of the landmark $1.3 billion Great Hall Project. Designed to fundamentally re-engineer the iconic 1.5-million-square-foot Jeppesen Terminal, the megaproject modernizes passenger processing capacity to handle over 100 million annual travelers by 2030 while dramatically enhancing passenger security, wayfinding, and operational efficiency.

Led by airport leadership and primary delivery partners Hensel Phelps and Stantec, the program is meeting major delivery benchmarks on time and within budget. Following the successful commissioning of the modernized East Security Checkpoint—which added high-throughput automated screening lanes equipped with advanced computed tomography (CT) scanners—contractors have transitioned heavy interior construction into the southern quadrant of Level 5 and Level 6.

Re-Imagined Ticketing Halls and Next-Generation Security Infrastructure

The ongoing final phase encompasses the comprehensive overhaul of passenger check-in and ticketing facilities for domestic and international carriers. Outdated ticket counters and legacy conveyor infrastructure are being replaced with streamlined, intuitive check-in islands, self-service automated bag drops, and digital touchless kiosks engineered to dramatically reduce curbside-to-gate transit times.

Central to the terminal’s operational evolution is the expansion of passenger screening infrastructure. With both the East and West checkpoints modernized, DEN provides a continuous security capacity capable of processing thousands of passengers per hour during peak morning and holiday travel banks, permanently eliminating historical bottleneck queues across the main atrium floor.

Civic Architecture, Artistry, and the Center of Equity and Excellence

Architecturally, the revitalized Great Hall celebrates Colorado's majestic natural landscape while preserving the world-renowned fabric tent roof engineered by Fentress Architects. The design introduces the 'Living Room'—an expansive public seating and gathering space featuring panoramic mountain views, natural daylighting, and charging amenities—alongside the 'Welcome Home Colorado' greeting hall and the international 'Global Gateway'.

Anchoring the central atrium is a soaring 60-foot public art installation titled 'The Stars and the Cottonwood', designed to guide traveler navigation. Concurrently, DEN is completing the Center of Equity and Excellence in Aviation (CEEA), a 66,000-square-foot training academy located on Level 4 of the Westin Hotel and Transit Center, aimed at preparing local students and underrepresented communities for high-skilled aviation careers.

Fueling Rocky Mountain Economic Growth and Sustainable Infrastructure

Denver municipal leaders emphasized that the Great Hall Project is an economic imperative for Colorado, where DEN stands as the state's primary economic engine, generating more than $36 billion in regional annual economic impact. The modernized terminal features high-efficiency HVAC systems, smart LED arrays, and advanced waste-diversion infrastructure aligned with Denver’s 2030 Climate Action Goals.

By combining increased processing capacity with world-class passenger comfort and seamless connectivity to the RTD A Line commuter rail, Denver International Airport ensures that Colorado remains a premier global transit hub equipped for decades of sustainable growth.