Innovative Engineering and Construction Approaches at LAX Continue to Garner Accolades


Left to right: Eugene Bougdanos (ACEC LA), Gienelle Lopez (LAWA), Steven Bentley (LAWA), Jeff Baumgardner (Kimley-Horn), Michael Stanek (Kimley-Horn), Emery Molnar (LAWA), David Kim (LAWA), Jason Matson (Kimley-Horn), Edwin Tamang (Kimley-Horn) and John Moossazadeh (ACEC CA). Courtesy American Council of Engineering Companies California and Los Angeles World Airports.

(Los Angeles) Already a recipient of notable design, passenger experience and sustainability awards, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)’s West Gates at Tom Bradley International Terminal has gained further recognition with state and national Engineering Excellence Honor Awards from the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC). ACEC’s annual state and national award programs are juried by industry, government and academic experts and celebrate projects that showcase innovation, creative problem-solving and engineering’s unique ability to improve the world. Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) shares the distinctions with the project’s Airfield Civil Engineer-of-Record, Kimley-Horn, that supported the design of multiple aspects of the project including: baggage system optimizations, underpasses, airfield systems upgrades, a new apron and new taxilanes.

“In many ways, the West Gates at Tom Bradley International Terminal provides an early expression of what guests can expect across LAX as a part of our multi-million-dollar Capital Improvement Program. Throughout the project, thoughtful design, future-proof technology integrations and elements that underscore what makes Los Angeles so vibrant come together to create best-in-class guest experiences,” said Terri Mestas, Chief Development Officer, LAWA. “The West Gates concourse also demonstrates our ongoing effort to leverage LAX’s transformation as an economic driver for the local workforce and diverse and small businesses. I am grateful to Kimley-Horn and the entire project team for their collaboration.”

View of the West Gates at Tom Bradley International’s north façade. Courtesy Los Angeles World Airports.

Open to the public since May 2021, the West Gates at Tom Bradley International Terminal is a five-level, 15 gate, approximately 750,000-square-foot facility that serves international and domestic flights. The LEED Gold-certified concourse is among the most modern in the world and features leading technology – including biometric boarding gates and an advanced baggage handling system – inspired architecture and art and world-class guest amenities.

As with all of LAWA’s Capital Improvement Program projects, the creation of the West Gates generated economic opportunities for individuals from the airport’s surrounding neighborhoods and local, diverse and small businesses. The project was built by a team made up of 30 percent local hires and among the 86 new first-period apprentices who worked on the project, 37 were graduates of LAWA’s esteemed HireLAX program. Furthermore, around 21 percent, or roughly $300 million in total contract value, was performed by Small Business Enterprises.

Currently in construction, LAX’s Midfield Satellite Concourse (MSC) South project will expand the West Gates by adding approximately 150,000 square feet and eight gates for narrowbody aircraft to the south of the current concourse. Built with an innovative Offsite Construction and Relocation technique that allows for an accelerated delivery timeline, budget control and efficiency, MSC South’s opening date is anticipated in 2025.

"The experience of LAX's West Gates at TBIT will always hold a special place in my memory. The collective efforts of LAWA, Turner-PCL Joint Venture and the Corgan Design team brought together an incredible group of talented individuals who prioritized collaboration and partnership," said Edwin Tamang, Vice President, Kimley-Horn. “Personally, this experience not only defined my career but was also meaningful as it contributed to a program that serves as a gateway to the world. My family's journey in the United States began at the original west remote gates at LAX, so it was particularly enjoyable to work on expanding international arrivals infrastructure at TBIT to support similar stories."

Interested parties can learn more about LAX’s campus-wide transformation and subscribe for project updates at bit.ly/LAX-Transformation.

Interior view of the West Gates at Tom Bradley International. Courtesy Los Angeles World Airports.

PROJECT TEAM

• Lead Architect and Architect-of-Record: Corgan
• Associate Architect: Gensler
• Additional Architecture: gkkworks
• Prime Contractor: Turner Construction Company and PCL Construction Joint Venture
• Airfield Civil Engineer-of-Record: Kimley-Horn
• Structural Engineer-of-Record: Saiful Bouquet Structural Engineers
• Additional Structural Engineering: Buehler Engineering, Inc. and John A. Martin & Associates, Inc.
• Tunnel Engineer: TYLin Group
• Mechanical and Plumbing Engineer: Capital Engineering Consultants, Inc.
• Electrical Engineer: The Engineering Enterprise
• Additional Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing Engineering: PBS Engineers, Inc.
• Geotechnical Engineer: NV5 (GeoDesign)
• Building Civil Engineer, Fueling, Low Voltage and Ground Support Equipment: Burns & McDonnell
• Additional Utilities: PacRim Engineering

WEST GATES AT TOM BRADLEY INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL KEY PROJECT DETAILS

• Concourse opened to the public in May 2021
• Approximately 750,000-square-feet
• 15 gates for international and domestic flights
• LEED Gold Certified and meets CAL Green Tier 1 requirements
• Integrates biometric boarding gates, an advanced baggage handling system, inspired architecture and art and curated amenities to provide guests with world-class experiences
• Built by a project team made of 30% local hires
• 21%, or roughly $300 million in total contract value, was performed by Small Business Enterprises

MEDIA ASSETS
A PDF of this press release and high-resolution images and renderings are available to download at: bit.ly/LAX_WestGates_ACECAwards. Credit all assets as “Courtesy Los Angeles World Airports.”