This ambitious expansion of Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport is the result of collaboration amongst a vast network of professionals. We took on the task of designing lighting for the interiors of these new satellite concourses, including an innovative sterile corridor that allows international travelers to avoid the inconvenience of re-checking their bags after customs. The design teams focused on bringing elements of the natural world into the space, such as the ubiquitous wood and earth tones in the decor. Our lighting introduces warmth to this organic materiality, reinforcing the Midwest prairie aesthetic that invites travelers to lounge beneath trees and gaze up at the soaring wood ceiling. Airport lighting must be designed on a grand scale to fill the massive volume of space – however, we made sure to balance the grandiosity of our designs with human-level illumination. Details like integrated work desk lighting and small glowing accents at the foot of seats offer tangible comforts on which travelers can anchor themselves, no matter how long they’re waiting for their next flight.
