The expansion and renovation of Concourse A-East Ground Load at Denver International Airport was recently completed as the final phase of a $2.5 billion program to accommodate passenger growth as DEN is currently the third-busiest U.S. airport. The renovation was led by WSP.

“The additional gates added to the airport will allow airlines to grow and provide more capacity for international airlines,” said Indhira Figuereo Blaney, senior vice president and national aviation market leader, WSP. “Denver International Airport is a critical hub for travelers in the west, serving nearly 78 million passengers in 2023. This expansion makes a significant difference for passengers using this airport, either as a destination or for a connecting flight, and will help accommodate DEN’s goal of supporting more than 100 million passengers every year.”

The Concourse A-East Ground Load project added 29,000 square feet to the terminal, as well as five new gates, six new hold rooms, a new maintenance facility and office spaces. The expansion was also recently certified Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum by the U.S. Green Building Council. The concourse uses about 30 percent less energy than typical airport concourses.

“It’s a very efficient design that helps reduce the airport’s carbon footprint,” Figuereo Blaney said. “For example, there’s a lot of glass that’s intended to let more daylight into the building, and artificial lighting levels are adaptable depending on the time of the day and how dark or bright it is outside.”