Great Hall Construction Update: Hensel Phelps, One Year on the Project

The Great Hall Project has made incredible progress over the past year. Last March, as the global pandemic hit the U.S., the project restarted with a new delivery team.  Immediately, the new team confronted the pandemic crisis and was forced to quickly adapt and innovate to keep the project on schedule and the workforce safe. Despite this completely unforeseen challenge, the entire team has always kept the needs of our passengers and our business partners at the forefront.

Since construction resumed, the Level 6 area behind the construction walls has transformed into the future check-in lobbies for United and Southwest Airlines. When this phase of the project is complete, passengers will experience a modernized check-in process in a beautiful space.

Since construction resumed, Level 6 behind the construction walls, has transformed into new modern check-in areas for United and Southwest Airlines. When  this phase of the project is complete, DEN passengers will experience a new check-in process, featuring four new ticketing pods and a beautifully designed space.

The layout will facilitate a more fluid and efficient check-in process with self-bag drops and large bands of dynamic signage that wrap around to provide information. The new ticketing areas will be open for airline use by the end of the year.

To accommodate these open and flexible check-in areas, we added 16,000 square feet of space to Level 6, extending the floor and relocating exterior walls. The additional square footage will make room for convenient new restrooms adjacent to the check-in area on both the east and west sides.

In the next few months, our construction crews will continue to install new tile flooring in the Level 5 arrivals area, where passengers exit the trains from the gates. Once the flooring is complete, the construction walls will shift, creating a new path for passengers arriving at DEN. Instead of exiting to the south, passengers will exit to the north. DEN will have staff on-hand to help passengers maneuver this big change.  More details about this configuration will be forthcoming.

You can’t help but be impressed when you compare the Great Hall before and after pictures. AND, much more is yet to come this year, as we begin construction on Phase 2 this summer. You can follow our progress by viewing our monthly project dashboard.

Hensel Phelps Kicks Off Phase 2 Small Business Outreach

Spotlight on Brekhus Tile

New restrooms in the Great Hall will resemble the new restrooms on the west side of Concourse B.

Brekhus Tile & Stone is a family-owned tile and stone installation contractor based in Denver. Founded in 1997, Brekhus executes complex, custom, high-end stone and tile installation projects.

“We are one of few fabricators in Colorado that offers the full-service operation to meet all client needs – including design, material procurement, fabrication and installation for both residential and commercial projects,” said Kym Brekhus, co-owner of Brekhus Tile & Stone.

Brekhus began a long-standing working relationship with DEN after attending an outreach program about opportunities at the airport in 2006. The company’s first project at DEN was a tile repair job at Auntie Anne’s Pretzels in the terminal. This led to larger jobs, including work at Elway’s, Denver Central Market, New Belgium Brewery, Lounge 5280, La Casita, Larimer Street Market, Aviator Lounge, Concourse B West Expansion and the newly opened American Express Centurion Lounge.

Currently, Brekhus is working on multiple areas within the Great Hall Project, including the installation of new quartz tile flooring in the Level 5 arrivals area where passengers exit the trains, and the installation of porcelain wall tile at the elevator vestibules.

Brekhus is a Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE), Small Business Enterprise (SBE) and a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE). Their company employs a staff of 80 and earned the title of National Tile Contractors Association’s 5-Star Contractor & Natural Stone Institute Commercial B Accredited Contractor.

“Regardless of the size or scope, our mission is simple and straightforward. Our core company values of professionalism, stewardship, caring, and leadership provide a depth of understanding about what is important to succeed in our mission,” added Brekhus. 

What Concessions are Open in the Terminal?