Airport Experience® News - Conference Issue 2024

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so that we are increasing jobs, connecting Colorado to the global market.” To do so, the airport has embarked on several ambitious expansion and renovation programs entirely funded by airport revenues, including a $2.5 billion Concourse Expansion Program, now nearly complete after breaking ground in 2018, and the $2.1 billion Great Hall Program, expected to be complete in 2027. The multiphase Concourse Expansion Project, Law notes, includes a significant augmentation to the airport’s United Airlines facilities. The first phase was completed in November 2020 and consisted of building four new gates for United Airlines, six hold rooms, and additional space along the western end of Concourse Below: United Airlines; new two-level, 35,000-square foot B-East Concourse lounge features 600 seats, a wellness room, shuffleboard court, and a Colorado-inspired food, beverage, and beer-tasting program.

B. In October 2022, seven additional B Concourse United gates as well as a grab and-go United Club Fly concept opened, and the project’s other major expansions, composed of 12 new A-West Concourse United gates, 16 hold rooms, and two United Club lounges have opened as of Fall 2023. For travelers flying United, the airline’s new two-level, 35,000-square foot B-East Concourse lounge, which features 600 seats, a wellness room, shuffleboard court, and Colorado-inspired food, beverage, and beer-tasting program are sure to be a layover landmark, says Russell Carlton, corporate communications manager for United. The club’s design is inspired by Denver’s urban areas, he adds, noting that the space features “a variety of locally sourced furnishings and artwork, including photography, paintings, sculptures and murals that reflect the Denver community,” such as a mural by artist Charlo Garcia Walterbach, a sculpture inspired by the

Colorado Blue Spruce by Will Schlough, and murals by local artists Jaime Molina and Pedro Barrios that tell “the story of Denver through highly-visual, street art inspired geometric shapes.” Over at the Concourse A-West United Club, the 24,000-square foot space features similar amenities as well as ski-lodge inspired, locally sourced decor and art from Colorado-based Amy Hoagland and Denver-based multidisciplinary designer Adam Vicarel. United also plans to revamp an additional lounge by 2025, which will leave DEN with more than 100,000 square feet of updated lounge space. Other perks for passengers to look forward to in the recently expanded terminal include soon-to-open locally-focused concessions across the A-West and B-West concourses, such as Elway’s Taproom, to be operated by DIA F&B Concessions ; The Bindery, Uncle and Maria Empanada, all operated by Mission Yogurt ; and Aviano Coffee El Chingon and Mizu Sushi-Izakaya,

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AX NEWS MARCH 2024