World Famous Architects Competing For $2.6 Billion O’Hare Terminal Two Project

One of retiring Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s last official acts will be selection from among five internationally renowned architects to be designer of the reconstruction of O’Hare Field’s terminal two facilities. Overseeing management of the terminal construction to bring the project in within the budget and on schedule, however, will fall to Emanuel’s elected successor.

Here are the architects who have submitted proposed designs for the terminal expansion:

Spanish born 67 year old New York architect Santiago Calatrava Valls, designer of the financially failed, never to be built “Chicago Spire” proposed for the 400 North Lake Shore Drive property now owned by Related Midwest.

Harvard trained 46 year old Chicago architect Scott Duncan of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.

Denver, Colorado based 71 year old architect Curtis W. Fentress.

London based 83 year old architect Norman Foster.

Chicago based, 54 year old Bellville, Illinois born architect Jeanne Gang.

Given the dramatic design proposals, together with the mammoth budget and ambitious schedule for this airport project, whoever is elected to fill Mayor Emanuel’s fifth floor city hall office after he retires can certainly look forward to many headaches growing out of the O’Hare construction program no matter which competing design is chosen.