The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority has selected HOK to design a major expansion to Washington Dulles International Airport in northern Virginia. Continuing the airport’s Tier 2 concourse development program that began last fall with the start of construction of the initial 435,000-sq-ft, 14-gate phase by Turner Construction Co., the project will add another 1.735 million sq ft that includes 22 new gates for international flights and a new 176,000-sq-ft federal inspection services facility.

HOK also will design a new central utility plant for airport infrastructure, upgrades to ramp control systems and baggage handling services and the initial 1.13-million-sq-ft section of a separate “Tier 3” concourse. The Dulles AeroTrain will link the new facilities with the airport’s main terminal and other concourses.

The concourses are part of a $7-billion package of facility infrastructure investments that the airport expects to complete during the next 15 years. Funding for the $500-million initial section, called Tier 2 (East) and slated for completion in late 2026, is being provided in part by a $40-million grant awarded under the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

While HOK is scheduled to deliver its design with an eye toward beginning construction in 2026, an authority spokesperson says no schedule has been set for selecting a construction team.

Justin Wortman, HOK regional aviation and transportation leader, says the expansion helps position Dulles Airport for success for the next 40-50 years.

“It will enhance Dulles’ airside functions, future-proof the facility, improve its flexibility, and create beautiful and open passenger spaces that elevate the traveler experience,” he adds.

According to HOK, the Tier 2 concourse expansion will seamlessly integrate with the initial phase, ensuring a smooth and intuitive passenger experience that will provide clarity for passengers, particularly those traveling overseas.

“As the front door to the Nation’s Capital, we want to create an elevated experience for both arriving and departing international passengers,” says HOK Design Principal Peter Ruggiero. He adds that along reflecting the prestige and expectations of Washington, D.C. and the National Capital region, “we are also incorporating current trends in international arrivals processing to streamline passenger flow and enhance operational efficiency.”

To support the authority's sustainability goals, Ruggiero says the HOK team also will identify the most effective design solutions that improve energy efficiency and resilience.

As metropolitan Washington’s primary hub for overseas flights, Dulles traffic has rebounded since the 2020 pandemic. Last year saw the airport handle a record 10.38 million international passengers, an 11% increase over 2023’s total. Dulles currently operates 113 gates, nearly half of which are located in 550,000-sq-ft Concourse C/D, constructed more than 40 years ago and envisioned as a temporary facility until permanent concourses could be built.   

Even as the airport builds new facilities geared toward mid-21^st century travel, Wortman says Finnish architect Eero Saarinen’s distinctive original main terminal building, opened in 1962, will remain a design touchstone.

“Our goal is to create the next generation of great airport architecture, learning from Saarinen’s principles while evolving them for modern needs,” he says.