Los Angeles International Airport soars toward renovations via major contracts

The Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners recently awarded the contracts for architectural, engineering, planning and design services to construct Midfield Satellite Concourse, as well as spearhead additional upgrades at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

These projects mark the first components of the LAX Capital Improvement Program, aimed at enabling the airport to accommodate new larger aircraft and improve the level of service provided to airlines, airport tenants and the traveling public.

A three-year, $41.5 million contract was awarded to Denver-based Fentress Architects, in association with HNTB Architecture Inc. of Kansas City, Mo., for overall architectural design services. The services include interior specialty systems that provide core functions such as security, baggage, concessions, passenger processing, interior signage, vertical transportation, aircraft support, information technology, flight information and other related services (ranging from site surveys to acoustical, environmental and geotechnical design).

A second three-year contract for $39.4 million was awarded to Hatch Mott MacDonald LLC of Millburn, N.J., whereby the firm will provide civil engineering and related services to develop aircraft gates on the west side of Tom Bradley International Terminal. The gates will be capable of serving the needs of new larger, transoceanic aircraft increasingly sought by international carriers.

Related to this work will be the completion of projects that range from relocating various taxiways and designing a utilities master plan to removing and replacing an existing aircraft rescue and firefighting station. The upgrades will enable the subsequent construction of the Midfield Satellite Concourse connected by a tunnel to the Tom Bradley International Terminal and the LAX passenger terminal area.

The projects also will further Los Angeles World Airports' (LAWA's) goal for a “greener” LAX. In accordance with LAWA's Sustainable Design and Construction Guidelines, these projects must optimize the use of recycled building materials, minimize the amount of energy used in construction and demonstrate ongoing energy efficiency.