Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti visited Los Angeles International Airport on July 22 for a hard-hat tour of the new Midfield Satellite Concourse.
Garcetti was joined on the tour by city council member Joe Buscaino, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) CEO Deborah Flint and airport staff.
The Midfield Satellite Concourse – which broke ground in February 2017 and is being constructed by a joint venture led by Turner and PCL Construction – is a 12-gate addition that will be connected to the Tom Bradley International Terminal by two tunnels, including a 1,000ft (304m) corridor for passengers. The western half of the tunnels are already complete while work continues on the eastern half, as well as an addition to Tom Bradley that will house elevators and escalators to reach the tunnels. Inside the concourse building itself, installation of escalators is well underway, along with terrazzo flooring and the framing of interior walls.
The interior of the facility is designed to represent three neighborhoods – Downtown (DTLA), Mid-City and Ocean – differentiated from one another through simple sculptural forms, artisanal materials and creative palettes. Concessions inside will reflect a taste of local Los Angeles fare, and other passenger amenities will include state-of-the-art technology such as biometric boarding, a variety of seating and a modern baggage-handling system that will facilitate 24-hour storage before flights. The concourse is expected to open in mid-2020.
“Once complete, the Midfield Satellite Concourse will strengthen our city’s global connections, bringing Los Angeles to the world and the world to Los Angeles,” said Garcetti.
“Historic infrastructure investments at our airport will mean good jobs for our workforce and more growth for our economy, all while delivering the world-class experience travelers expect and deserve.”
As of mid-July, wages and benefits for the 6,236 workers who have had a role in building the concourse totaled US$207m, with US$68m of that going to 1,911 local employees. About 30% of the workers on this project live in Los Angeles and the surrounding cities. The project has also created union-sponsored craft jobs for 83 people, including 36 graduates of the HireLAX Apprenticeship Readiness Program.
“We are transforming this airport through a unique partnership, making sure that the people of this region are a part of the fabric of LAX for generations to come,” said LAWA’S Flint.
“It’s truly inspirational to see local talent molding the future of this airport and redefining how people from around the world experience Los Angeles’ front door.”