Q4 2023

View as Webpage

As we near the end of 2023, DEN is putting the finishing touches on the new Level 6 West Security Checkpoint, which is scheduled to officially open on Feb. 6, 2024. This will be the first of two new state-of-the-art security checkpoints that will consist of 17 screening lanes with advanced technology. The East Security Checkpoint will be complete by the end of 2025.

At this time, the security and screening equipment for all 17 lanes has been installed and is currently undergoing testing. Additionally, crews are wrapping up construction with the final installation of new finishes such as signage, advanced security systems, quartz flooring and glass walls.

By the end of 2023, construction will essentially be complete, and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and DEN operations will begin training officers and staff in preparation of opening day, on February 6.

As we inch closer to this monumental moment for DEN and the Great Hall Program, look for more information on our social media channels and website about the new checkpoint and what you can expect when you use the new equipment.

Photo 1: West Security Checkpoint screening equipment

Photo 2: TSA PreCheck entrance to new West Security Checkpoint

This year, the Great Hall Program made significant progress. Below is a recap of some key milestones the Great Hall Program accomplished in 2023.

Phase 2

As highlighted above in the first article, significant progress was made on the new Level 6 West Security Checkpoint and construction will be wrapping up by the end of the year. When the new checkpoint opens on Feb. 6, so will the new triple escalator that will take screened passengers from Level 6 directly to the Level 4 train to the gates. 

The new triple escalator will take screened passengers from new Level 6 security checkpoints to the Level 4 platform for the train to the gates

Additionally, this year:

• The corridor just west of the Level 5 North Security Checkpoint was completed and opened back up to the public. This area includes new spaces for airport tenants and partners like TSA and Money Exchange.
• The escalators that take passengers between Levels 4 and 5 near baggage claim 17 reopened this fall with new flooring, ceiling and signage.
• The areas near Doors 500, 502 and 504 were refreshed with new flooring and ceiling tiles and new flooring was installed at the elevator lobby near Door 606.

All of this work is leading up to the on-time and on-budget completion of Phase 2 early next year.

Completion Phase

While the focal point of 2023 has been the West Security Checkpoint, the Great Hall Program is still making great progress on the Completion Phase which includes the build out of the East Security Checkpoint. Throughout the year, crews have completed most of the demolition of the existing space in the northeast corner of Level 6 and began utility work and framing for the second new security checkpoint. Only one year ago, this space still housed airline ticket counters and it is now gutted and well underway to being transformed into another state-of-the-art checkpoint, which will open by the end of 2025.

Before: East Security Checkpoint

Current: West Security Checkpoint Progress

Other Completion Phase accomplishments include:

• The completion and opening of the new curbside escalator on the east side of the terminal that takes passengers between Levels 5 and 6
• The second piece of Notre Denver, the popular public art gargoyles, returned with the opening of this new escalator
• The groundbreaking of the Center of Equity and Excellence in Aviation (see next article for more details)

All this work has put the Great Hall Program on an accelerated path to be complete by the end of 2027 with key phases opening along the way! Stay tuned next year for more updates and progress photos.

From left to right: Stephanie Burke, Director of Center of Equity and Excellence in Aviation; Diana Peña Khribeche, BDTA Graduate; Annie Johanning, Ramp Tower College Intern; Andrea Thorsted, LeadershipDEN participant, DEN CEO Phil Washington; Michael Trevino, New Heights participant; Andrea Albo, Deputy Chief of Staff

Earlier this month, DEN held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Center of Equity and Excellence in Aviation (CEEA). The first-of-its-kind training center will help create a pipeline of aviation talent for our entire community in Denver and the aviation industry with a concentration on under-represented communities, historically underutilized business, people of color and women. CEEA fosters building generational wealth, establishing career pathways in the aviation industry, and serves as an innovation hub that will influence our global community.

CEEA is being constructed as part of the Great Hall Program and will comprise about 38,000 of 66,000 square feet of space on Level 4 under the Westin hotel and above the transit center. The focal point of the center is the Hall of Equity, which will accommodate approximately 300 people for dynamic training and educational purposes. Other adjacent lecture halls and training rooms will accommodate another 200-300 people. A pre-function and lobby space will also have a small café for networking and small group meetings.

Ultimately, the entire buildout of this space will allow DEN and Denver to develop our aviation workforce, provide small and minority businesses with the tools to succeed and allow DEN to lead the aviation industry in research and innovation.

“In developing aviation talent, CEEA aims to be the industry model,” DEN CEO Phil Washington said. “Through CEEA, DEN is committed to providing opportunities for underrepresented individuals and businesses to enter the aviation industry and rise as future leaders. With CEEA and its comprehensive programs, employees will receive the necessary training and tools for a successful career in aviation while supporting minority-owned small businesses to grow and prosper.”

The design of CEEA is being led by Studio Completiva and construction by Sky Blue Builders. This project provides both firms an opportunity to take more of a leadership role and gain some significant experience that will allow them to each grow as a company.

Click here to learn more about CEEA and its current programming and training opportunities.

Marisol Munoz, a Lead Virtual Design and Construction (LVDC) engineer with Hensel Phelps has worked on the Great Hall project for almost three years managing the Building Information Modeling (BIM) with a primary focus on model management. She is the primary liaison for VDC coordination between the design team, the engineering team, specialty trades and operations.

These digital models can analyze construction projects to help identify areas of improvement through clash detection and 4D simulations.

Additionally, Marisol supports the creation of digital tools that can visualize and plan building designs and schedules. Most recently Marisol created the augmented reality (AR) model for the new West Security Checkpoint that allowed DEN operations, TSA and other partners to visualize the space and the design while the checkpoint was under construction. She has also created a mixed reality (MR) model for the new Money Exchange location to help the tenant visualize the new office and provide feedback that was then incorporated into the final design and space.

Growing up in New Jersey and then southwest Kansas, Marisol was always interested in construction. She attended Kansas State University and graduated with a B.S. in Construction Science and Management, but it was her two internships during college that made her realize this was the career path for her. Marisol accepted a full-time offer with Hensel Phelps after college because, “the people I worked with during my internships made it the best time and I was able to learn so much in a healthy environment.”

Before coming to DEN, Marisol was a field engineer with Hensel Phelps on a data center project in Wyoming. Hensel Phelps then offered her the opportunity to support the DEN Great Hall project as a VDC Engineer, and she jumped at the chance. On a day-to-day basis you can find Marisol in staffing and coordination meetings or on calls with the DEN design teams. A big focus right now is making sure the design coordination efforts are fast and efficient so the field installation is smooth.

From her experience working at DEN, Marisol is now an expert on how to navigate through the terminal, which comes in handy when she travels. She is proud of the work her team is providing on the Great Hall and looks forward to being able to say – we helped build that! 

Marisol recently got engaged, and she and her fiancé, Elijah, have two cats, Heidi and Melon. She enjoys spending time cooking and baking. When asked what advice she would provide to someone interested in a career in construction, Marisol said, “I would tell them to not be afraid to get involved in all the other aspects there are to construction like estimating, VDC, safety, or quality. There is so much knowledge you can gain from the non-traditional roles that you can then implement into the next position, project, or task.” 

The groundbreaking of the Center of Equity and Excellence in Aviation has been a great opportunity to highlight DEN’s commitment to providing our minority and women-owned business enterprises (M/WBEs) a path into the aviation industry and for future growth. However, DEN’s commitment to the M/WBE community is longstanding and filters into all aspects of our airport operations. The Great Hall Program is no different. Since the beginning of the project, DEN has made a concerted effort to provide M/WBEs an opportunity to participate in the program as subcontractors.

The M/WBE firms are serving as subcontractors for one of the four prime contractors or consultants serving on the project: Hensel Phelps, Jacobs, LS Gallegos and Stantec. All four of these companies are currently meeting or exceeding M/WBE goals and LS Gallegos, is in fact, a M/WBE.

Each newsletter, one of the M/WBE firms is highlighted. This time, we are providing a brief overview of LS Gallegos (see below). We look forward to sharing more stories about our M/WBE partners next year.

Some of the Small, Disadvantaged and Minority/ Women-Owned Business Enterprises (SBE, DBE, M/WBE) have been a part of the Great Hall Program from the very beginning and LS Gallegos is one of them. This Colorado-based firm was founded in 1988 and specializes in program, project and construction management consulting and support services for capital improvement projects in the transportation and public works sectors.

In 1988, Lawrence (Larry) Gallegos started LS Gallegos as a single consultant. Today the company employees over 60 full-time and part-time consultants who provide program and project management advisory services. Since the company was founded, LS Gallegos has provided their services to some of the largest transportation and public works projects in various cities across the country, including DEN.

LS Gallegos started its journey at DEN in 2001 as a sub consultant. In 2018 it was selected as a prime consultant to provide project management services to the Great Hall Program. They have been working on the program ever since.

LS Gallegos prides itself on being a part of the MBE, SBE and DBE community. Larry credits the business community at DEN and in the Denver area for promoting and supporting the MBE, SBE and DBE program, which has greatly contributed to LS Gallegos' growth and sustainability.

Sign up for the Great Hall Project newsletters by visiting our project page!

DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

8500 Peña Blvd., 8500 Peña Blvd.,

Denver, CO 80247