LAX terminal cores and APM interface
los angeles
Merit Award
Sent by: Austin commercial LP
Owner: Los Angeles World Airports
Main design company: AC Martin
General contractor: Austin commercial LP
Civil Engineer: PSOMS
Structural Engineer: John A. Martin & Associates
MEP Engineer: PBS Engineers Inc.
A six-year, $463 million program concluded in April 2024 to modernize the terminals and improve regional transit connections at LAX.
The terminal cores serve as one of the main entrances to the LAX terminals, providing easy access to site levels via elevators and escalators, as well as a direct connection to the future automated passenger train (APM) system. . The scope included the construction of three such cores: at Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT), Terminal 6 (T5.5) and Terminal 7 (T7).
Meeting the challenges of this project, especially in the midst of the pandemic, required prioritizing communication. Logistics turned out to be one of the first tests in terminal cores. The T5.5 core was accessible, with tarmac space for vehicles entering the secure area of the aerodrome, but Terminal 7 and TBIT were only accessible from the central terminal area. To avoid this, all personnel, equipment and materials were delivered to the same curb as the passengers.
Project management adjusted the template to respond to project needs, leveraging technology wherever possible. At the start of the project, tablets were provided to all operations staff as well as LAWA Construction Inspection Division staff to facilitate access to documents and quality, security and document management platforms online
When possible, the team also experimented with new technologies that did not exist when work began. For example, a SiteAware AI-based digital verification system was implemented in the final Phase 2 concrete pours, eliminating the rework that had been necessary in Phase 1. Continuous improvement was a hallmark of the design and construction team approach.
