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Hundreds of tiles in Denver International Airport's new Great Hall cracked and missing grout
Hundreds of tiles in Denver International Airport's new Great Hall cracked and missing grout

CBS News

time6 hours ago

  • General
  • CBS News

Hundreds of tiles in Denver International Airport's new Great Hall cracked and missing grout

If you've been to Denver International Airport lately, you might have noticed the brand-new tiling that's part of the Great Hall Project is cracked in many places, and some tiles are held together with nothing but tape. Airport officials say some of the damage is from construction equipment rolling over the new flooring, and other tiles, they say, may have been cracked by train vibrations or the Zamboni cleaning machine. But Patricia Watson, a construction management attorney, is convinced the problem is more serious, "It's actually cracked and failing everywhere," she says. "You can't walk through the airport and go 100 feet in any direction and not find grout falling or popping out." A frequent flyer, Watson first noticed scuff marks and scratches in the new flooring, "I think it was a terrible choice to put white tile in an airport with glitter in it. It looks filthy all the time." But she says, a poor color choice is one thing, poor construction is another. Watson is an attorney with nearly 30 years' experience in commercial real estate, including construction defect litigation. She says she's managed the construction of more than a million square feet of commercial office projects in Colorado and says whoever managed the tile installation in the airport's Great Hall botched the job. "It clearly didn't get adhered to the floor properly. There's definitely places where there's air under the tile. When somebody stands on that section, it doesn't have support under it, so it cracks the tile. And it's just going to get worse." She says everywhere grout is missing, the tile will eventually crack, "I think there was poor construction supervision, or it would not look like this right now. I counted 100 places on the 5th floor just on this side where it's cracked." Airport officials say they did their own count after CBS Colorado contacted them and found 266 cracked tiles out of just over 21,000 tiles installed on the 5th and 6th levels. That's about 1%, which they say is within industry standard. They released a statement saying, "The cracking can be caused by issues other than installation, which may include structural vibrations throughout the terminal from construction, train movement, passenger movement, foundation movement, cleaning equipment, maintenance equipment and other variables." Some of the damage, they say, is "due to heavy equipment and material deliveries, and replacement of these tiles was planned and budgeted with the program costs." Once work is complete, they said the tiles will be replaced. They insisted that "There are no product issues, warranty issues, or installer issues." Officials say they didn't install the tiles at the end of the project because it's more efficient to replace individual tiles than rip out temporary flooring and install new flooring. The tiles, they say, were imported from Italy and cost $242 per tile. They used "travel paths," they say, to minimize the cost of replacing them, and say their "contingency budget" will cover most of the costs, and repairs will not prolong the project. Until those repairs happen, Watson says, the flooring fiasco will be the first impression visitors have of Denver, "Should be the pride and joy of our city, not something that's embarrassing when you walk through the airport and you see 150 cracked tiles." Watson believes installers used the wrong type of grout, which she says could be the fault of the architect or the contractor. Airport officials say they recently changed to a different type of grout. They also say that, after an inspection by a third-party expert, they began videotaping the installation of every tile and have seen very few cracked tiles. With 83 million travelers a year, they say that they're continually making repairs, noting the old granite floor also saw cracking, and they are currently repairing concourse floors. The Great Hall project, which involves renovating the fifth and sixth levels of the terminal, began in 2018 and was supposed to be finished in 2021. The original $770 million price tag has nearly doubled to $1.3 billion. In 2019, CBS Colorado was the first to report on problems with concrete. That increased costs by millions of dollars and put the project years behind schedule. The airport switched contractors and now says it will be finished in 2027.

Top 10 Largest Airports in the World
Top 10 Largest Airports in the World

Time Business News

time16-07-2025

  • Time Business News

Top 10 Largest Airports in the World

Airline Help is here for you! Call us at 800-594-4991 (OTA), and let our team guide you through your travel plans with ease. Have you ever wondered which is the biggest airport in the world or where the largest airport in the world is located? Airports are more than just runways; they're vast cities serving millions of travellers each year. Let's explore the biggest airports in the world that will leave you amazed by their size and facilities. 1. King Fahd International Airport (DMM), Saudi Arabia When it comes to land area, King Fahd International Airport in Dammam tops the list. Covering over 780 square kilometres, it is the biggest airport in the world by size. The airport features: Multiple passenger terminals Cargo facilities A separate terminal for the royal family Travel Tip: If you're flying through Dammam, reach early. The distance between terminals can take extra time. 2. Denver International Airport (DEN), USA Denver International Airport in Colorado is the largest airport in the world in the USA by area, spread over 135 square kilometres. It is famous for: Its unique tent-like roof design Extensive art installations Efficient domestic and international connectivity Need help? Airline Help is here for you! Call us at 800-594-4991 (OTA) for bookings or flight changes with ease. 3. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), USA One of the biggest airports in the world, DFW Airport covers around 70 square kilometres. It offers: Five operational terminals A Skylink train for fast transfers Over 200 gates serving passengers worldwide Travel Tip: If you have a layover, explore their shopping and dining options for a relaxing experience. 4. Orlando International Airport (MCO), USA Another major hub in the USA is Orlando International Airport. It spans over 54 square kilometres and is known for: Its easy access to theme parks Spacious terminals Efficient shuttle systems Need help managing your flight bookings? Call Airline Help at 800-594-4991 (OTA) for smooth travel solutions. 5. Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), USA Located in Virginia, Washington Dulles International Airport covers 48 square kilometres. It is a key airport for: International flights into the USA's capital Multiple runways to manage heavy air traffic Convenient passenger facilities Travel Tip: Use their Aerotrain system to reach gates quickly. 6. Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX), China One of the newest and biggest airports in the world, Beijing Daxing Airport has a striking starfish-shaped terminal. Highlights include: Handling over 100 million passengers annually Advanced smart technology for security and boarding Multiple transport connections across Beijing Need help? Airline Help is just a call away at 800-594-4991 (OTA). 7. George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), USA In Houston, Texas, George Bush Intercontinental Airport covers 44 square kilometres. This largest airport in the world category hub offers: Five passenger terminals Strong domestic and international network Modern amenities for comfortable travel Travel Tip: If flying internationally, allow extra time for customs clearance. 8. Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG), China As one of Asia's busiest airports, Shanghai Pudong International Airport covers 40 square kilometres. It is known for: Two main passenger terminals Dedicated cargo terminals High-speed Maglev train connectivity Need assistance with your flights? Airline Help is ready to support you at 800-594-4991 (OTA). 9. Cairo International Airport (CAI), Egypt Africa's busiest and biggest airport in the world for the region, Cairo International Airport, spans 37 square kilometres. It offers: Three terminals for domestic and international flights Strong Middle Eastern and African connectivity Easy taxi and shuttle services for travellers Travel Tip: Carry local currency for airport transport and small purchases. 10. Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), Thailand Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok is among the largest airports in the world. It covers 32 square kilometres and features: Modern design with vast glass structures Smooth immigration and security process Excellent food courts for travellers Need help rebooking your flights or managing your trip? Airline Help is here for you! Call us at 800-594-4991 (OTA) today. Final Thoughts These top 10 biggest airports in the world not only handle millions of passengers but also serve as gateways to countries and continents. From King Fahd International Airport's massive area to Beijing Daxing Airport's futuristic design, each airport has something unique to offer. Travelling soon? For any flight bookings, cancellations, or changes, Airline Help is just a call away at 800-594-4991 (OTA). Our team ensures your journey remains smooth and stress-free. Quick Recap ✅ King Fahd International Airport, Saudi Arabia ✅ Denver International Airport, USA ✅ Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, USA ✅ Orlando International Airport, USA ✅ Washington Dulles International Airport, USA ✅ Beijing Daxing International Airport, China ✅ George Bush Intercontinental Airport, USA ✅ Shanghai Pudong International Airport, China ✅ Cairo International Airport, Egypt ✅ Suvarnabhumi Airport, Thailand TIME BUSINESS NEWS

Jurassic Park-ing lot: Dino fossil turns Denver museum into dig site

time11-07-2025

  • Science

Jurassic Park-ing lot: Dino fossil turns Denver museum into dig site

Like finding mountains of gold bars below a bank or happening upon a rare piece of art hidden beneath a gallery, a Denver museum that's full of fossils serendipitously discovered -- wait for it -- a dinosaur bone, right under its parking lot. "Wow, what are the chances?" James Hagadorn, a geology curator at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, told ABC News. Back in January, the museum found a fossil of a plant-eating dinosaur, believed to be nearly 68 million years old, lying about 800 feet below the parking lot, the museum announced this week. At the time of the discovery, scientists were conducting a "geothermal test drilling project" to determine whether the museum could use the heat of the Earth underneath the parking lot in City Park, Colorado, the museum said in a press release. This dino-mite find, which Hagadorn described as "quite the cherry" on top of the project's intended mission, was discovered 763 feet below the surface and was identified as the "deepest and oldest dinosaur fossil ever found within the city's limits," the museum said in a press release. Museum scientists believe the fossil the vertebra of an herbivorous dinosaur -- possibly a Thescelosaurus or Edmontosaurus -- that roamed the region 67.5 million years ago, which is "just days before the mass extinction that wiped our the dinosaurs," the museum noted. Hagadorn said his "head just exploded" when he heard the news of the discovery, which has been on display among the museum's collection of more than 300,000 fossils since Wednesday. "It was absolutely incredible. The first thing you say is, 'Are you sure? Is this real? Are you playing a joke on me?'" he said. "That's like finding a diamond deposit under the world's largest gem store or an archeological site buried underneath the parking lot of an archeological museum." Hagadorn noted that this isn't the first time Colorado has seen a discovery like this. Previously, a horn of a Triceratops was found underneath Coors Field's home plate and "tons of cool fossils" have been located underneath Denver International Airport, he said. "The exciting thing to me is that there's the potential to find more, and that's both thrilling in the sense of discovery, but it's also interesting because these things are good for science, they tell us about our place, they tell us about our ecosystems [and] they tell us how the plane has changed. So it's a win, win, win," Hagadorn told ABC News. Even though Hagadorn said he would "love to go 750 feet down" again and see if there are more potential fossils underneath the museum's parking lot, he said that would be unlikely due to the scope of such a project. "In order to go that deep, you've got to dig a very big hole and then hold that hole open either by lining it or making it tapered. If we think about a tapered hole that goes down that deep, that would probably consume all our parking lot and maybe part of the museum too. So boy, it's fun to think about, but I think it's unlikely," he said. Hagadorn expressed his hope that the fossil -- which is within the museum's "Discovering Teen Rex" exhibition -- reminds people that "there's lots of geology underfoot." "The layers of Earth underneath us tell us stuff that's useful, whether that information is from a fossil or a mineral or some water that's flowing underfoot," he said. "Imagine what's underneath your house or mine. Who knows?" Hagadorn said the museum will have "tons" of free admission days for "everyone to access" the fossil and anything else within the facility.

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