As a subconsultant to the lead design firm HNTB, Primera played a vital role in providing electrical engineering services for the Denver International Airport (DEN) expansion. Partnering with Denver International Airport, United Airlines, and a significant subconsultant team, Primera helped deliver essential spaces to DEN, enabling it to meet its ambitious goal of supporting one hundred million annual passengers by the end of the decade.

The Concourse A West Expansion is a major part of this project, adding approximately 441,000 square feet of new concourse space with a footprint of about 143,000 square feet. This five-level expansion includes two new sub-cores, two new international nodes, provisions for two future international nodes, and a sterile corridor with eight people movers. It also features twelve new aircraft gates, fifteen hold rooms, a full basement, and roughly 72,000 square yards of aircraft-rated pavement. The work encompasses utility expansion, aircraft fueling, and the design for Passenger Boarding Bridges (PBB).

Similarly, the Concourse B West Expansion adds approximately 90,000 square feet of new concourse space with a footprint of around 45,000 square feet. This three-story expansion includes four new and two relocated aircraft gates and six new hold rooms.

Both concourses are designed with airy, contemporary spaces featuring white terrazzo floors, high ceilings, clerestory windows, and abundant natural lighting. Large spans of horizontal glass windows and metal panels maximize daylight distribution throughout the buildings. The expansions incorporate upgraded systems for enhanced efficiency and passenger comfort. The updated hold rooms integrate touchless technologies and offer a variety of lounge areas, workspace seating, and quiet zones. Additionally, an outdoor terrace provides live entertainment, fire pits, and panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains.

Baggage handling system (BHS) projects were separately designed for the Concourse B apron and basement levels, the Concourse A West Expansion, and the tunnel connection between Concourse A West and Concourse B, which is currently in the construction document design phase. The Concourse A West Expansion installed new BHS systems, including new power and lighting within expansion areas, along with revised power and upgraded lighting in existing areas to support the replacement baggage systems. The new BHS systems for Concourse B included revised power and replaced lighting within the existing building areas to accommodate the updated baggage systems. At 70% design completion, the Tunnel Connection project spans nearly 1,800 feet and involves revising and replacing BHS and lighting systems to support the new baggage systems.

Across all these projects, the replacement baggage systems were coordinated to include updated electrical power and lighting for the areas where the new systems were installed. The original, unused BHS systems were replaced, and lighting was upgraded to improve maintenance conditions using modern LED fixtures.

Sustainability is a key focus of the projects, with rooftop solar panel arrays and an aggressive environmental and energy efficiency strategy. The Concourse A West Expansion is designed to achieve LEED Platinum certification, while the Concourse B West Expansion aims for LEED Gold certification. The project recently received a Gold Award in Design from the International Interior Design Association, Mid-American Chapter.

Photo Credit: Michael Robinson Photography