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Facts about
Modernizing LaX
Why was the New Tom Bradley International
Terminal built?
The original Tom Bradley International Terminal
opened in 1984, and was fast-tracked to accommodate
the influx of athletes, participants and attendees of the
1984 Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles. Changing
technology, dramatic increases in passenger traffic,
and the advent of larger (Category VI), new-generation
commercial passenger aircraft resulted in the original
design of the Tom Bradley International Terminal
becoming obsolete.
In 2007, Fentress Architects was contracted to
modernize the Tom Bradley International Terminal
and create a Midfield Satellite Concourse, as well
as develop a masterplan for the modernization
of the entire LAX. The first phase of the New Tom
Bradley International Terminal, completed in 2013,
makes LAX the premier U.S. West Coast airport for
international passengers.
Who designed and built the New Tom Bradley
International Terminal?
The New Tom Bradley International Terminal was
designed by Fentress Architects of Denver, Colorado,
and constructed by Walsh Austin Joint Venture of Los
Angeles.
What is the design intent of the modernized
international terminal?
Fentress Architects, Los Angeles World Airports,
and the City of Los Angeles worked together to
create an iconic gateway to Los Angeles and the
United States. Just as with the well-known iconic
arches of the LAX Theme Building, it was decided
the new terminal’s design must represent the future-
focused nature of Los Angeles. Fentress Architects’
design was inspired by the overlapping waves of the
Pacific Ocean.
The interior focus is on creating a memorable and
comfortable passenger experience that returns the
glamour to air travel. Passengers are greeted by a
speedy and convenient transition through security,
while plentiful shopping and dining options await
them in the daylight-filled Great Hall.
What is the projected lifespan of the new terminal?
The New Tom Bradley International Terminal has
been built to last more than 30 years and has taken
into account future growth and development of
LAX.
Will the New Tom Bradley Terminal be
environmentally friendly?
Yes. The new terminal is designed to achieve LEED
(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
Silver certification by the U.S. Green Building
Council, making it one of the few airport terminals
in the United States to achieve this status. Other
sustainable features include: sunbathed terminals,
water-efficient plumbing fixtures, and expansion of
LAX’s existing recycling program to cover diversion
of 75 percent of construction waste from landfills by
designating salvage, reuse, and recycle components.
These features reduce not only LAX’s impact on the
environment, but also save costs to its passengers.
What is the roof made of?
The roof is made of curved aluminum meant to
resemble the abstracted form of overlapping waves.
Large windows facing away from the sun permit
abundant daylight while shielding passengers from
glare and heat.
What went into the construction of the facility?
20,000 tons of steel
310,758 square feet of glass
405,405 cubic feet of concrete
New Tom Bradley INTerNaTIoNal TermINal
FrequeNTly asked quesTIoNs (Faqs)
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Facts about
Modernizing LaX
How many floors are in the New Tom Bradley
International Terminal?
The concourses contain three floors and the Great
Hall has seven floors.
How tall is the Great Hall?
130 feet at grade – 110 feet from the floor of the
Departures Level
What is the length of New TBIT? How big is the
new terminal in square feet?
The length of the new facility is 2,335 feet. New TBIT
is 1.2 million square feet, doubling the size of the
original Tom Bradley International Terminal.
Why was the original Tom Bradley International
Terminal built?
The original Tom Bradley International Terminal
was built as part of an overall $700 million
construction project to overhaul LAX that began
in 1981 and was completed in 1984. The project
sought to accommodate the increasing number
of passengers at LAX due to the rapidly growing
popularity of air travel. The modernization of LAX
also was a key factor in Los Angeles’ candidacy to
host the 1984 Summer Olympic Games.
How is construction being financed?
The New Tom Bradley International Terminal is
funded through revenues from LAX operations,
capital improvement program funds, fees from
airlines, passenger facilities charges, and airport
revenue bond proceeds. No monies from the L.A.
City General Fund are being used.
Who was Tom Bradley?
Thomas J. Bradley (December 29, 1917 – September
29, 1998) was the 38th mayor of Los Angeles, serving
from 1973 to 1993. He was the first African-American
mayor of the city, and his 20 years in office marked
the longest tenure of any mayor in Los Angeles
history. Mayor Bradley contributed to the economic
success of the city by championing the development
of LAX. The Tom Bradley International Terminal is
named in his honor.
How many jobs are being created during the
construction of this project?
Considered the biggest public works project in Los
Angeles City history, the New TBIT Project is expected
to create 4,000 construction-related jobs over
the five-year construction schedule from 2010
to 2015. There were 1,400 laborers/craftsmen at
peak construction.
How many permanent jobs will be created when
construction is completed and the terminal is
totally operational?
New TBIT will create nearly 2,000 permanent
concession jobs, adding to the existing 3,000 airline,
concessions, service providers, federal security
and customs/immigration, and airport operations
employees.
What is the cost of the project? Why did the project
cost increase to $1.9 billion?
New TBIT’s initial $1.5 billion cost remains on
budget for construction, public art, architectural and
engineering designs, permits, and other “soft” costs
for the terminal facility itself. Additional scope items
have been added to the project since the original
design was completed, including the Integrated
Electronic Media Systems, additional Airline Club
Lounge space, and increased Food and Beverage
Concession Areas. Also part of the additional
scope. the remaining portion of the building will be
renovated over the next two years, and will include
a new security screening checkpoint, modifications
to the Customs and Border Protection facilities,
additional ticketing and check-In facilities, and
modifications to the existing outbound baggage
system. The New TBIT Project now also includes
the demolition of the existing North and South
Concourses, and rebuilding the aircraft parking
aprons and Taxilanes C-10 and D-10. The building
renovation and the additional scope – estimated
at $400 million and budgeted separately under the
LAX Capital Improvements Program-Phase 1 – are
now integrated into the New TBIT budget to ensure
timely completion of the overall project. Total
budget for New TBIT is $1.9 billion.
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PAGE 3
Facts about
Modernizing LaX
As A covered entity under title ii of the AmericAns with disAbilities Act, the city of los Angeles does not discriminAte on the bAsis
of disAbility And, upon request, will provide reAsonAble AccommodAtion to ensure equAl Access to its progrAms, services, And
Activities. AlternAtive formAts in lArge print, brAille, Audio, And other forms (if possible) will be provided upon request.
How long did it take to build?
The first phase of construction completed in Summer
2013. This includes the Great Hall and the westside
boarding gates. The second phase is scheduled to be
completed by 2015. This includes new eastside gates,
renovated immigration/passport control area, new
federal security-screening areas to be relocated
to the existing facility’s current mezzanine food
court area, airline lounges, additional ticketing and
check-In facilities, and modifications to the existing
outbound baggage system.
What were the MBE/WBE goals for this project?
Are they being attained?
Walsh Austin Joint Venture, the construction
manager, was committed to a 14 percent Minority/
Women-Owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE)
participation during the construction phase of the
terminal. This commitment is currently exceeded.
How many people will work in the New TBIT?
More than 30 air carriers operate at TBIT. Currently,
the existing international terminal supports 3,000
airline, concessions, service providers, federal
security and customs/immigration, and airport
operations employees, who are all expected
to eventually transition from the current to the
fully completed terminal. The New Tom Bradley
International Terminal’s food and beverage, retail
and duty free concessions located pre-security
screening, as well as in the new Great Hall and new
boarding gate concourses will support nearly 2,000
new permanent concession jobs.
Why is there public art at LAX?
The public artworks at LAX are funded through the
City of Los Angeles’ Percent for Public Art Program,
managed by the City’s Cultural Affairs Department.
This program dedicates one percent of construction
costs for city capital improvement projects to public
art. The artworks are installed at various locations
within the Central Terminal Area, and three major
new installations by local artists will be installed
in the New TBIT and in renovated sections of the
existing terminal as part of the overall New TBIT
Project scope.
07/2014
