ENR East
Bryan Gottlieb
03 Dec 2025
Pre-publication request for information outlines a redevelopment framework far larger than publicly discussed
The U.S. Dept. of Transportation is considering a sweeping redesign of Washington Dulles International Airport, based on a pre-publication request for information now posted on the Federal Aviation Administration’s website.
The document outlines scenarios for replacing or substantially reworking the airport’s terminals and concourses but has not yet been formally published in the Federal Register and still contains placeholder fields for key deadlines.
The draft calls for rough order-of-magnitude cost estimates for multiple redevelopment approaches, descriptions of financing and delivery strategies, including public-private partnerships, and detailed plans to maintain full airport operations during a multi-year construction program.
The RFI situates redevelopment within the relief of Executive Order 14344, “Making Federal Architecture Beautiful Again,” signed by the president Aug. 28. The EO states that any new terminal complex should reflect architecture intended to “inspire the American people,” suggesting the department is evaluating not only operational and capacity needs but also the aesthetic identity of the region’s primary international gateway...
