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11-12-25

November Project Spotlight: ORDNext

ORDNext: the transformative vision for Chicago O’Hare’s International Airport.

JWI is an integral part of the Program Management Team, providing specialized individuals in key roles across various expertise areas, including Construction Management, Baggage Handling Systems, Cost Controls, Safety, Scheduling, Utility Master Planning, and more.

The next phase of ORDNext is underway, creating the largest terminal expansion in O’Hare’s history. To prepare for the massive undertaking of constructing a new Global Terminal, JWI and the Program Management Team are currently engaged in a multitude of projects, some of which are highlighted below.

Central Basin Elimination

  • The project involves filling an existing detention basin in the middle of the west airfield with approximately 1,000,000 cubic yards of structural fill material. The fill material is sourced from existing airport stockpiles and by increasing capacity in the south detention basin. Filling the basin ultimately enables the construction of two parallel taxiways that will replace the old taxiways A and B, paving the way for new expansion.

Concourse D

  • In July of this year, the team began construction of a new 19-gate Concourse D satellite terminal.
  • Since July, the project has demolished all existing pavements and removed all existing utilities within the new building footprint. The next step is the installation of over 350 caissons, which began this week.
  • The JWI fuel team worked closely with ORDNext’s construction management team to relocate existing Concourse C fuel piping and is in the final stages of testing O’Hare’s first above-ground fuel manifold, which will serve Concourses C and D.
  • The construction team is also working feverishly on the installation of new hydronic pipes, which will ultimately provide both heating and cooling to Concourse D. The piping will ultimately travel from a new Midfield Cooling Plant near the Central Basin all the way across the airfield to Concourse B.

These enabling projects are vital to O’Hare’s ongoing expansion, and JWI is proud to play a key role in shaping its future.