Woods Bagot adds modular terminal with aluminium fins to LAX
Architecture studio Woods Bagot has utilised an off-site production method for "accelerated construction" in its creation of a satellite concourse at Los Angeles International Airport.
Working with operator Los Angeles World Airports, Woods Bagot's Midfield Satellite Concourse South (MSC South) adds 150,000 square feet and eight gates to the Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX.
To maintain operations at the busy airport in California's largest city, Woods Bagot utilised an off-site construction model, with the terminal structures constructed on a site 1.75 miles from the airport.
Self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs) brought the pieces to the site for installation, overseen by WE O'Neil Construction, with engineering from Buro Happold. It was assembled on site in just a few weeks.
Nine modular elements feature steel frames supporting lightweight concrete slabs, all set on metal decks, with each module connected via seismic joints.
The risk of earthquakes and the need for future adaptability drove the design.
"In response to the conditions of southern California, the structure balances reduced weight – critical for transport and installation – with a robust lateral system," Woods Bagot principal Matt Ducharme told Dezeen.
"Each module incorporates a combination of moment frames and braced frames, providing stability while allowing for uninterrupted views along the concourse," he continued.
"The modular strategy also introduces long-term adaptability. Rather than a fixed piece of infrastructure, the concourse is conceived as a flexible system – capable of being disassembled, reconfigured, or expanded in response to future operational needs."
The concourse is connected to the rest of the airport via an underground tunnel.
According to Ducharme, the design language for MSC South referenced Tom Bradley International Terminal, which was designed by Fentress Architects, known for its design of Denver International Airport, among others.
The modular nature of the construction also affected the appearance of the design "to avoid overly rigid connections" – seen in the continous curtain wall and open interior spaces.
Powder-coated aluminium extrusion fins form a brise-soleil that runs along the facade of the structure, giving the exterior rhythm and providing shade for the interiors.
A points, the brise-soleil lifts off from the face of the structure, banded by a steel plate.
"The architectural language draws cues from the adjacent Tom Bradley International Terminal, with the brise-soleil geometry subtly aligning with the terminal’s roof profile to create continuity across the broader airport landscape," explained Ducharme.
Inside, continuous terrazzo flooring meets timber panelling. Ducharme said that the intent was to shift the language from "infrastructure to hospitality".
To provide unity of the exterior with interior, the fins are echoed in the slats of a perforated acoustic baffle ceilings, which conceal mechanical functions.
"The intent was to evoke a 'living room' quality, reducing pre-flight stress and enhancing passenger comfort," said Ducharme.
"Internally, the project reflects a broader shift in airport design – from transit space to inhabited space."
"The 'living room' concept introduces moments of pause within the linear journey, using light, material warmth, and views to soften the intensity of travel," he continued.
"Positioned between infrastructure and architecture, the concourse reframes the airport experience – balancing operational efficiency with a more human-centered approach to movement, waiting, and departure."
Overall, Woods Bagot said the design was meant to recall the modernist architecture of Los Angeles and to showcase the prevalence of off-site construction in airport design.
This additive approach comes at a time when cities are tearing down airports, sometimes unnecessarily demolishing older buildings, as writer Anthony Paletta wrote in a Dezeen opinion earlier this year.
Other studios that have worked with airports to install pre-fabricated elements include ZGF's Portland International Airport addition, where a massive timber roof was prefabricated and lifted on top of a new airport structure.
Woods Bagot was founded in Australia in the late 19th century and has multiple offices in the United States.
The photography is by Jason O'Rear.
Project credits:
Design architect: Woods Bagot
Associate architect: Raw International
General contractor and construction manager: WE O'Neil Construction
Structural engineer: Buro Happold
Civil engineer: Mott MacDonald / MA Engineering
Mechanical and plumbing engineer: Syska Hennessy Group
Electrical engineer: PBS Engineering
Geotechnical engineer: Diaz Yourman & Associates
Sustainability consultant: Buro Happold
Baggage handling, passenger boarding bridges and fueling: Swanson Rink
IT, communications and security: TLC Engineering Solutions
Wayfinding: Selbert Perkins Design
Lighting design: Buro Happold
Acoustics: Buro Happold
Site investigations and surveying: Pfeiler & Associates Engineers
Vertical transportation: Syska Hennessy
Group code compliance: Jensen Hughes
Fire protection: Schwab Engineering
The post Woods Bagot adds modular terminal with aluminium fins to LAX appeared first on Dezeen.
