The Jeppesen Terminal project at Denver International Airport (DEN) involved the construction of the airport's main terminal and associated infrastructure. Spanning 1.7 million square feet, the seven-level concrete Jeppesen Terminal, named for American aviation pioneer Elrey B. Jeppesen, is one of the largest commercial terminals in the world. PCL Construction’s scope also included essential associated infrastructure, including two parking garages attached to the east and west sides of the terminal and accommodate 9,206 vehicles, 12 approach bridges, and the underground concrete tunnel for the train that shuttles passengers from Jeppesen Terminal to Gates A, B and C.
A standout feature of the Jeppesen Terminal is its iconic 375,000 square-foot Teflon-coated fabric roof, designed to mirror the nearby Colorado Rockies. This design relocated the building's mechanical infrastructure from the roof to an underground space, creating a large, open area while significantly reducing the need for thousands of pounds of structural steel and building materials. The innovative roof configuration allows ample daylight to enter, minimizing the reliance on artificial lighting. Additionally, it reflects over 70% of the solar radiation landing on its surface, lowering the demand for air conditioning. Weighing 400 tons, the roof is supported by 34 steel masts, 10 miles of structural steel cables, 3.8 miles of aluminum clamping and 660,000 square feet of fiberglass architectural membrane.
The Jeppesen Terminal project was completed while the connecting concourses and additional airport infrastructure was still under construction, requiring meticulous coordination and planning to avoid interference with other ongoing projects.
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