{"id":6782,"date":"2026-04-16T19:09:49","date_gmt":"2026-04-16T19:09:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/angesfinanciers.org\/?p=6782"},"modified":"2026-04-17T15:09:51","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T15:09:51","slug":"woods-bagot-adds-modular-terminal-with-aluminium-fins-to-lax","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/angesfinanciers.org\/index.php\/2026\/04\/16\/woods-bagot-adds-modular-terminal-with-aluminium-fins-to-lax\/","title":{"rendered":"Woods Bagot adds modular terminal with aluminium fins to LAX"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Brise-soleil<\/div>\n

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.<\/span><\/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

\"Woods
Woods Bagot has completed an extension of Los Angeles International Airport<\/figcaption><\/figure>\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

\"Woods
The modular structure was prefabricated off-site<\/figcaption><\/figure>\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 and North American design director 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

\"Interior
It has a brise-soleil made of aluminium<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

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

\"Interior
The modules were designed in line with the modular construction<\/figcaption><\/figure>\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

\"Interior
Acoustic panelling inside mirrors the fins outside<\/figcaption><\/figure>\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

\"Interior
Wood panelling was included inside<\/figcaption><\/figure>\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