{"id":395938,"date":"2026-04-16T22:11:11","date_gmt":"2026-04-16T22:11:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/395938\/"},"modified":"2026-04-16T22:11:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T22:11:11","slug":"woods-bagot-adds-modular-terminal-with-aluminium-fins-to-lax","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/395938\/","title":{"rendered":"Woods Bagot adds modular terminal with aluminium fins to LAX"},"content":{"rendered":"

Architecture studio Woods Bagot<\/a> has utilised an off-site production method for “accelerated construction” in its creation of a satellite concourse<\/a> at Los Angeles International Airport.<\/p>\n

Working with operator Los Angeles World Airports, Woods Bagot<\/a>‘s Midfield Satellite Concourse South (MSC South) adds 150,000 square feet and eight gates to the Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"WoodsWoods Bagot has completed an extension of Los Angeles International Airport<\/p>\n

Self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs) brought the pieces to the site for installation, overseen by WE O’Neil Construction<\/a>, with engineering from Buro Happold<\/a>. It was assembled on site in just a few weeks.<\/p>\n

Nine modular elements feature steel frames supporting lightweight concrete slabs, all set on metal decks, with each module connected via seismic joints.<\/p>\n

The risk of earthquakes and the need for future adaptability drove the design.<\/p>\n

\"WoodsThe modular structure was prefabricated off-site<\/p>\n

“In response to the conditions of southern California, the structure balances reduced weight \u2013 critical for transport and installation \u2013 with a robust lateral system,” Woods Bagot principal Matt Ducharme told Dezeen.<\/p>\n

“Each module incorporates a combination of moment frames and braced frames, providing stability while allowing for uninterrupted views along the concourse,” he continued.<\/p>\n

“The modular strategy also introduces long-term adaptability. Rather than a fixed piece of infrastructure, the concourse is conceived as a flexible system \u2013 capable of being disassembled, reconfigured, or expanded in response to future operational needs.”<\/p>\n

\"InteriorIt has a brise-soleil made of aluminium<\/p>\n

The concourse is connected to the rest of the airport via an underground tunnel.<\/p>\n

According to Ducharme, the design language for MSC South referenced Tom Bradley International Terminal, which was designed by Fentress Architects<\/a>, known for its design of Denver International Airport, among others.<\/p>\n

The modular nature of the construction also affected the appearance of the design “to avoid overly rigid connections” \u2013 seen in the continous curtain wall and open interior spaces.<\/p>\n

\"InteriorThe modules were designed in line with the modular construction<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

A points, the brise-soleil lifts off from the face of the structure, banded by a steel plate.<\/p>\n

“The architectural language draws cues from the adjacent Tom Bradley International Terminal, with the brise-soleil geometry subtly aligning with the terminal\u2019s roof profile to create continuity across the broader airport landscape,” explained Ducharme.<\/p>\n

\"InteriorAcoustic panelling inside mirrors the fins outside<\/p>\n

Inside, continuous terrazzo flooring meets timber panelling. Ducharme said that the intent was to shift the language from “infrastructure to hospitality”.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"InteriorWood panelling was included inside<\/p>\n

“The intent was to evoke a ‘living room’ quality, reducing pre-flight stress and enhancing passenger comfort,” said Ducharme.<\/p>\n

“Internally, the project reflects a broader shift in airport design \u2013 from transit space to inhabited space.”<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Pittsburgh<\/p>\n

HDR, Gensler and Luis Vidal create “pavilion in the landscape” for Pittsburgh airport terminal\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

“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.<\/p>\n

“Positioned between infrastructure and architecture, the concourse reframes the airport experience \u2013 balancing operational efficiency with a more human-centered approach to movement, waiting, and departure.”<\/p>\n

\"WoodsThe design language references the adjacent international terminal<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Other studios that have worked with airports to install pre-fabricated elements include ZGF’s Portland International Airport addition<\/a>, where a massive timber roof was prefabricated and lifted on top of a new airport structure.<\/p>\n

Woods Bagot was founded in Australia in the late 19th century and has multiple offices in the United States.<\/p>\n

The photography is by Jason O’Rear.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Project credits:\u00a0<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Architecture studio Woods Bagot has utilised an off-site production method for “accelerated construction” in its creation of a…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":395939,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[53906,437,434,435,436,4670,438,146,85,46,1900,69401,32995,448,449,140789,2586,82051],"class_list":{"0":"post-395938","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-arts-and-design","8":"tag-airports","9":"tag-arts","10":"tag-arts-and-design","11":"tag-artsanddesign","12":"tag-artsdesign","13":"tag-california","14":"tag-design","15":"tag-entertainment","16":"tag-il","17":"tag-israel","18":"tag-los-angeles","19":"tag-modular-architecture","20":"tag-prefabricated-buildings","21":"tag-sectionall","22":"tag-sectionarchitecture","23":"tag-sectionexclusives","24":"tag-usa","25":"tag-woods-bagot"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/395938","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=395938"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/395938\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/395939"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=395938"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=395938"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=395938"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}