The development of the Midfield Satellite Concourse helps the Los Angeles International Airport achieve its vision of becoming a world-class airport with an unparalleled passenger experience. The project adds 1.7 million square feet of space through a new five-level concourse and accommodates 15 gates, including 12 wide-body gates for larger aircraft. The project serves dual purposes. It acts as a domestic concourse connected to the entire central terminal area and will eventually serve as an international concourse expansion of the Tom Bradley International Terminal. The project consists of three building components: The Gateway Project, an extension of the Bradley West Terminal; two underground tunnels used to connect passengers, utilities and baggage systems from the Bradley West Terminal to the MSC; and the MSC itself.

Phase one of the MSC consists of 45,000 square feet dedicated to concessions and 40,000 square feet dedicated to airline clubs. Domestic passengers will travel to and from MSC via the eight domestic terminals that comprise the central terminal area, while international passengers will arrive via an underground tunnel connection from the Bradley West International Terminal. The project also includes associated aircraft parking aprons, taxiways/taxi-lanes and utilities. 

The need for collaboration and innovation drove the project approach. The Turner-PCL joint venture team partnered with Los Angeles World Airports through a progressive design-build contract that brought the owner, designers and contractors together during the design planning stages to design and build MSC. Together, the LAWA and Turner-PCL JV design-build team created a structurally efficient building inspired by an ocean swell, a design that allows ample daylight, volume and ambience to embrace its vibrant interior community. The design is reflective and complementary to the adjacent Tom Bradley International Terminal’s architecture and balances practical design with creating a welcoming passenger experience. 

To ensure the job site represented the diverse community surrounding it, we committed to a 15% utilization of small business enterprises and exceeded the goal and achieved 19% utilization. We also committed to and achieved the goal of a 30% local hire. To help those starting out in their construction careers we sponsored 85 new local first period apprentices.

To enhance the passenger experience within the new concourse, the design incorporated inspiration from the urban fabric of Los Angeles by grouping gates together to create “urban neighborhoods”. Retail kiosks, cafes and passenger service amenities such as powered work counters, play areas and conversation pods surround the gates.  This approach caters to every passenger regardless of age, ability, group size or reason for travel and provides a variety of seating options.