Denver International Airport

DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT: DEVELOPING A SEAMLESS TRAVEL EXPERIENCE

The Denver International Airport (DEN) covers 53 square miles, making it the largest airport in North America by area. Approximately 70 million travelers flow through this Rockies transportation hub every year and it provides employment for over 35,000 of the Colorado region’s residents.

Over the last fifteen years, Jensen Hughes has provided fire and life safety services as well as modeling for egress, fire and smoke control for this site. One of the most remarkable projects our team supported was validating the fire safety aspects of the unique Jeppesen Terminal rooftop tent design, which was inspired by the snowcapped Rockies and pays tribute to the American Indian tipis that once occupied the site. The terminal was named for Denver-based aviation pioneer Elrey Jeppesen, known worldwide for his navigation charts.

Historically, Colorado has always relied on transportation to thrive, beginning with the railroad system, growing into the Denver Stapleton Airport in 1929, and expanding through a master planning process to increase capabilities as a passenger airport to keep up with the developing western region in the 1980s. Part of the master plan designated the nearby Rocky Mountain Arsenal as a national preserve for eagles, bison, deer, antelope and other wildlife.

Much like the western landscape, DEN has been ever-changing, including the 2016 addition of the Regional Transportation District’s A Line commuter rail that connects directly to Union Station and cultivates an evolving aerotropolis, or airport-centered district of businesses, hotels, offices, transportation, entertainment, and housing. Renovations also began in 2018 to relocate security checkpoints, consolidate ticket counters, and expand all three concourses.

Currently, our technical staff at Jensen Hughes are teamed with Stantec on The Great Hall Program while working on various other concourse expansion teams. Phase 1 of the Terminal project has already been completed and included new ticketing areas for United, Southwest and Frontier that include self-bag drop units that help expedite the check-in process.

For Phase 2, our code and safety specialists are supporting Stantec in streamlining security with a new TSA checkpoint with technology that will enhance the security process and improve the passenger experience. The area will embrace state-of-the-art technology and automations to increase efficiency while being less intrusive to travelers.

The Great Hall project is not only focused on enhancing safety and security and creating more intuitive passenger flow, but also truly becoming an airport of the future that will accommodate continued growth for the region. Our project teams are steadily working on creating this seamless travel experience.

In the meantime, to learn more about the current Great Hall Project and get tips on navigating the airport during these modern renovations, visit FlyDenver.com/GreatHall.