Grimshaw completes "iconic entry point" for Los Angeles at LAX rail station

Architecture studio Grimshaw has completed a rail and bus station just outside of the Los Angeles International Airport that connects directly to the city's urban centre.

Designed by Grimshaw with engineering firm Arup and executive architect Gruen Associates, the LAX/Metro Transit Center is part of the wider Landside Access Modernisation Program by the city, which seeks to improve access to and from the airport through several infrastructure projects.

"The Metro Transit Center Station transcends the typical function of a transit hub, emerging as a significant civic landmark and gateway to the city's transport network," said Grimshaw Los Angeles managing partner Andrew Byrne.

"The station also exemplifies the importance of thoughtful infrastructure to accelerate the necessary shift in our cities: fostering economic vitality and equity and improving the quality of life for residents and visitors alike as Los Angeles moves towards a more sustainable and connected future."

Located just to the east of LAX, the Transit Center is now a stop on the city's K and C metro lines, which connect to the greater public transit system.

The Transit Center will also act as a hub for the new electric train system the Automated People Mover (APM), upon its anticipated completion in 2026. The APM is set to connect travellers directly from the station to airport terminals, although for now, bus shuttles function in its place.

Spanning a total of 11 acres, the Transit Center encompasses a two-level station that contains metro and bus stops, as well as a customer service centre.

In plan, the building expands northwards in two branches, eventually sloping into a one-level pavilion that services bus stops. The exterior is clad in a variety of glass and mesh panels that snake along the length.

Inside the station, skylights and canopies extend across the roof, while panels similar to those on the exterior also cover the underside.

Also serving as landscape architect on the project, Gruen Associates selected drought-tolerant native plants for concrete planters located on ground level.

The project is targeting LEED Gold, according to Grimshaw, and uses passive design strategies such as natural ventilation and the network of canopies to provide comfort.

According to the team, the station was completed in anticipation of a variety of events Los Angeles is set to host in the coming years, including the 2028 Summer Olympics, games from the 2026 FIFA World Cup and Super Bowl LXI in 2027.

"It serves as a new iconic entry point for air travellers arriving in Los Angeles," said Gruen Associates partner-in-charge Debra Gerod.

Grimshaw Architects recently completed a series of bridges in Toronto and also spoke to Dezeen about the importance of infrastructure following its win of the 2024 RIBA Stirling Prize.

The photography is by Jason O'Rear

Project credits:

Design architect: Grimshaw
Executive architect: Gruen Associates
Contractor: Tutor Perini Corp
Landscape: Gruen Associates
Structural: Arup and JCE Structural
Façade: Arup
Fire & life safety: Arup
Acoustics/AV/IT/security: Arup
Lighting: Arup
M/E/P: Lam + Tea Engineering
Civil: Mott MacDonald, BA Inc., DRC and FPL
Traffic: Fehr & Peers
Geotechnical: Diaz Yourman Associates
Surveyor: Coast Survey
Vertical transportation: Syska Hennessy Group
Pedestrian flow modelling: Arup
Environmental graphics: SKA Design
Sustainability: Arup
Safety: Soteria Company
Irrigation: Sweeney Associates
Community outreach: The Robert Group
Cost Estimating: Lenax
Specifications: Bobby Knox Architect
Animations: Kilograph

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