Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has undergone an upgrade aimed at enhancing passenger capacity and experience.
The improvement project enables the terminal to accommodate up to 4,500 passengers per hour.
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The $1.9bn TBIT improvement project is part of the LAX’s $4.1bn Capital Improvements Program. The project is funded by LAX’s operating revenues, capital improvement programme funds and airport revenue bonds.
Construction of the terminal upgrade began in 2010 and was completed by 2015. It is implemented in phases, and the upgraded terminal was opened for commercial operations in September 2013.
The terminal improvement project created more than 4,000 construction jobs and 2,000 direct / indirect jobs.
Details of the TBIT improvement project at LAX
The project includes the upgrade of Integrated Environmental Media System (IEMS), construction of additional airline club lounge space, increased food and beverage facilities and demolition of the existing north and south boarding gate concourses. The concourses have been replaced by new aircraft parking aprons and two taxi lanes.
The new terminal has a total area of 1.2 million square feet and a length of 2,335ft. It features a total of five new business-class and first-class lounges.
TBIT has 18 boarding gates, which includes nine gates capable of accommodating Group VI aircraft such as Airbus A380, Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental and Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The boarding gates feature laser-based and highly technical visual guidance docking systems.
The 110ft-tall Great Hall at the upgraded terminal provides dining, entertainment, shopping, lounges and other amenities to the passengers. It has three storeys covering an area of 150,000ft².
Westfield, along with its partners, constructed a $79.8m dining facility and a $25m retail shopping chain at the new terminal with 31 dining units and 36 new shops.
An Integrated Environmental Media System (IEMS) comprising seven architecturally scaled media features are installed at the terminal. The IEMS system created the most advanced multimedia environment at the airport.
The project also includes construction of a secured corridor facility between the TBIT and Terminal 4.
A new checked-baggage-inspection system has been installed at the terminal as part of the project.
Tom Bradley International Terminal has a total of 16 security lanes, 14 of which were replaced with new automated security lanes during July 2017 and April 2018.
Tom Bradley International Terminal project phases
Phase one of the project included construction of the Great Hall and Westside boarding gates on the north concourse.
Phase two included construction of the eastside boarding gates on the south concourse and expanded areas for federal passenger security screening, customs and immigration processing. Construction was completed in 2015.
Sustainability features of Los Angeles Airport’s TBIT
The TBIT project follows LAWA’s Sustainable Design and Construction Guidelines.
The new terminal received Silver Certification in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) from the US Green Building Council.
The project enhances the use of recycled building materials and construction waste. The terminal features efficient lighting fixtures and occupancy sensors to control lighting, which reduces energy consumption and increase energy efficiency.
Low volatile organic chemical (VOC) paints, adhesives, carpets and sealants are used in the terminal’s interior.
Passenger facilities at Tom Bradley International Terminal
The terminal has food and beverage units, such as Marina Bar, Sam Adams Bar, Camacho’s Cafe, Sushi Boy, Euro Coffee & Haagen Dazs, Panda Express and Daily Grill Restaurant and bar. It also has shopping centres such as Duty Free Shoppers, Crews of California, See’s Candy, Hollywood Store and InMotion.
The terminal has an Interactive Visitors Centre at the arrival level.
The Centurion Lounge at TBIT
American Express announced plans to add its twelfth signature airport lounge, called The Centurion Lounge, at Tom Bradley International Terminal in June 2018.
The new lounge, which will be opened for public in 2019, will occupy 13,900ft² and can be accessed from T4, T5, T6, T7 and T8 terminals of LAX.
It offers amenities such as tranquillity area, spa, family room and custom, visual wall installations, premium wines, enhanced workspaces, and complimentary chef-crafted food menus.
Contractors involved with the terminal improvement at LAX
Fentress Architects is the main architect for the TBIT project. HNTB serves as an associate architect.
A joint venture (JV) of Walsh Construction and Austin is the general contractor for the project. The JV manages the construction of the project.
Hatch Mott Macdonald (HMM) is the Lead Airside Engineer for the project and provided construction supervision services and additional information for different equipment and systems that are be installed at the terminal.
The Board of Airport Commissioners of Los Angeles (BOAC) awarded $107.06m worth contracts for the TBIT project in March 2013.
It included an $82.28m contract award to Turner Construction for the design and construction of a secure facility / connection between the TBIT and Terminal 4.
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