Building Futures (BF) is about identifying projects, ideas, and innovations that create lasting positive change within the building community and the communities it serves.
Throughout my professional career, most building projects have relied on the assumption that a functioning “grid” of power, water, sewer, telecommunications, transportation, and internet systems was readily available. Yet, for far too long, these essential networks have been neglected, undermaintained, and rarely replaced when they’ve exceeded their design life. Driving through Chicago in recent years has been both frustrating—because of congestion—and exciting, as major infrastructure renewal is finally visible across highways, rail lines, bridges, and data centers.
This BF explores the role of Chicago’s airports in regional transportation and economic development.
O’Hare and Midway airports are vital engines for Chicago’s business and political ecosystem. In 2023, O’Hare’s operating revenues exceeded $1.4 billion, while Midway generated an additional $297 million. These airports attract tourists, support hospitality dollars, create jobs, and form an integral part of Chicago’s multimodal transportation network—including highways, trucks, trains, shipping, and air travel.
Growing up, air travel was an exciting adventure. Today, even reaching the airport can be a challenge. Enhancing the travel experience, making departures and arrivals at O’Hare more enjoyable, has a lasting impact on how residents and visitors perceive Chicago and its economic vitality.
O’Hare Modernization and Expansion
The ongoing O’Hare Modernization Program includes:
- Upgrading and modernizing existing facilities
- Constructing new terminals and customer amenities
- Building additional runways
- Expanding parking and access
A key component is the expansion of the highway system feeding the airport. A new highway will provide western access, giving travelers from western and southern suburbs direct entry to an entirely new section of the airport. Combined with expanded terminals and runways, these improvements position O’Hare to reclaim its leadership as one of the world’s busiest airports, while offering a more comfortable and reliable experience than ever before.
With continued success, O’Hare, and Chicago air travel more broadly, will remain a primary driver of the region’s economic, cultural, and global standing.