Terminal B Airside Project Tops Out at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport
On July 17, 2025, Manhattan Construction Company celebrated a major milestone in the transformation of George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) with the topping out of the Terminal B Airside redevelopment. This achievement marks the completion of the structural steel phase for the new North Concourse—part of United Airlines’ ambitious Terminal B Transformation Program.
A Milestone in Aviation Infrastructure
The topping out ceremony commemorated the placement of the final steel beam on the 765,000-square-foot North Concourse, a dual pier facility that will eventually support over 400 daily flights. The event brought together more than 2,000 attendees, including 1,500 workers, subcontractor teams, design partners, and stakeholders from United Airlines and the Houston Airport System.
Jason Fuller, Vice President at Manhattan, praised the team’s dedication:
“With our Terminal B Airside work including new concourse facilities, airside paving, fueling projects, phased renovations in occupied areas, and specialty aviation systems—all executed while maintaining uninterrupted airport operations—it is with great personal pride to honor the team and trade partners today. We’re especially proud to recognize our team’s outstanding safety performance, nearing 2 million man-hours without a major incident.”
Celebrating the Team Behind the Build
The celebration included a project-wide lunch, T-shirt giveaways, raffles, and guided tours of the North Concourse. Guests were also treated to panoramic views of the airfield from the future United Club level, offering a glimpse of what’s to come.
The North Concourse, scheduled for completion in fall 2026, is designed to accommodate United’s growing fleet. It will feature 22 narrowbody equivalent gates and the flexibility to handle up to four widebody aircraft in a MARS 2:1 configuration. The facility includes a ramp level for aircraft operations and baggage systems, a concourse level with passenger amenities and retail, and mezzanine levels for mechanical systems and a spacious United Club—set to be the largest in the airline’s network.
Building for the Future
Beyond the concourse, Manhattan is delivering over 1.5 million square feet of apron paving, utilities, and fueling infrastructure. All work is being executed in carefully phased segments to ensure uninterrupted operations at adjacent terminals.
The South Concourse, currently in final design stages, is also being upgraded to accommodate larger E175 aircraft, with future plans to expand capacity for up to 12 narrowbody aircraft.
A Collaborative Effort
This milestone reflects the strength of collaboration between Manhattan Construction, United Airlines, program managers STV, Inc., and AVAirPros, and a team of design and engineering partners, including PGAL, Walter P Moore, Rogers Desimone, AECOM, and Jacobs.
Together, they are shaping the future of air travel in Houston—delivering a world-class terminal that reflects innovation, safety, and operational excellence.
Manhattan is the Construction Manager at Risk for the airside portion of the Terminal B project, which is $1.2 billion of United Airlines’ overall $2.5 billion Terminal B Transformation program.
About United Airlines IAH Terminal B Transformation
The Terminal B Transformation at IAH is a groundbreaking initiative that represents United Airlines’ and the City of Houston/Houston Airport System’s joint commitment to revolutionizing the passenger experience. With a strong focus on intuitive customer movements, we are creating a terminal that truly embodies the spirit of Houston while prioritizing sustainability. More: https://www.iahbunited.com/