Modular Construction Adds Efficiency to Hartsfield-Jackson Airport Expansion

The long-awaited expansion of Concourse D at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport started in late April, but the milestone was the culmination of two years of careful preparation using a less disruptive approach to improve the world’s busiest airport.

The USD 1.4 billion project, which blends modular and traditional construction, is one of many planned at Hartsfield-Jackson in the coming years. WSP is serving as program manager for the Concourse D project on behalf of the City of Atlanta’s Department of Aviation.

“It is aimed at increasing the 44-year-old Concourse D’s footprint, widening it from 60 feet to 99 feet (18 to 30 metres) and extending its overall length by 288 feet (87 metres),” said Todd McClendon, senior vice president of aviation at WSP and area director responsible for several ATLNext Capital Improvement Program projects.

The multi-phased construction schedule calls for placing 19 pre-constructed modules at Concourse D, making the mile-long journey on the same day each week between 1-4 a.m. This method will keep as many gates open as possible during construction.

“We saw a real efficiency in building the modules on a remote site at the airport, while, at the same time, working on the needed foundation and utility relocation works at the concourse,” added Edmund Ramos, vice president project management at WSP and deputy Concourse D project director.

Design started in April 2022 and underground utility enabling work began in November 2023. Work on the modules began in January 2024.

Click here to learn more about the project, and watch the video below for a look at the first module move at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport.

Watch the video: