b'TERMINALSATL 43Atlanta Intl Combines Modular and Traditional Build Methods for Concourse D ExpansionBY JODI RICHARDS Serving more than 100 million passengers annually, its no secret that Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is a critical piece of the worldwide aviation network. So when the busy airport requires expansion or renovation, one of the biggest considerations is minimizing impact to operations. When it was determined that Concourse D, at 40+ years old, would require improvements to continue meeting current and future demand, officials recognized it would take innovation and creativity to makeit happen. Opened in 1980, Concourse D is one of five original concourses in ATLs domestic terminal. It is the airports narrowest concourse, with a circulation corridor of 18 feet and holdroom seating for 5,400 passengers. The concourse was originally designed with 40 gates to handle 19 regional aircraft and 21 larger aircraft. But even after renovations over the decades, Concourse D remains dramatically undersized.The current expansion program scheduled for completion in 2029 will:double holdroom size and increase seating to 6,400, widen the main corridor to 29 feet, raise the ceiling height,expand the boarding level by 75%, increase concessions options, double the size of restrooms, and add new building systems.The width of Concourse D will be expanded from 60 feet wide to 99, and the new ceiling height will be up to 18 feet and taper down at the concourse edges to 14 feet to create more volume in the space. Additional glass on the walls will provide more ambient light, making the entire concourse brighter, airier and more open. Sixty feet may have been fine in 1980, but today its just so tightly packed, relates Frank Rucker, ATLs senior deputy general manager. By greatly expanding the floor area, theres more room for passengers to maneuver, and its going to be such a better passenger experience.FRANK RUCKERWhen all is said and done, the concourse will include 34 aircraft positions, which is actually six fewer than before. The difference is that all will be for Group III aircraft, rather than a mix of Group II and III gates, so the overall capacity will be greater.Cost for the game-changing expansion is estimated at $1.4 billion. The innovation and creativity that ATL AirportImprovement.comJuly | August 2024'