Terri Meyer Boake B.E.S. B.Arch. M.Arch.
Associate Professor School of Architecture University of Waterloo

Image Gallery:

United Airlines Terminal
O'Hare International Airport

Helmut Jahn Architect

Chicago, Illinois

 

About the building:

The new construction for the United Airlines Terminal at O'Hare took place between 1985 and 1988. The project was designed by Helmut Jahn Architect, with C.F. Murphy Associates and Thornton-Tomasetti Engineers, and included new passenger terminal areas as well as an illuminated tunnel between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.

More information on this project may be seen at Great Buildings Online and structurae.com.

 

View of steel structure.
Where the atrium space steps down, the curved W section structure is doubled up.

The blue glazing is an attempt (unsuccessful) to cut down on the solar gain in the end of the terminal building.
The main part of the terminal uses a combination of fritted glazing and opaque ceiling panels to control solar gain (much better).

View towards ceiling construciton. Round HSS sections are used as the purlins.
Four round HSS sections are connected together to form the column structure in this part of the building.
Daylighting over the check-in area is modelled on the lighting in the Kimbell Gallery by Louis Kahn.
Detail of how the daylighting fits into the ajacent steel structure over the atrium walkway.
Smaller version of the skylight detail over the gate lounges.
Detail of exterior of curtain wall.
Close up detail of skin.
Here you can see the snow stops that are fixed to the exterior of the fritted glass wall via silicone.
Exterior view of the terminal building.

The images on this site have been taken for use in my teaching. They may be copied for educational purposes. Please give credit. These images may not be reproduced commercially without written consent.

last updated March 8, 2008