Architecture studio Woods Bagot has utilised an off-site production method for "accelerated construction" in its creation of a satellite concourse at Los Angeles International Airport.

Working with operator Los Angeles World Airports, Woods Bagot's Midfield Satellite Concourse South (MSC South) adds 150,000 square feet and eight gates to the Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX.

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.

Woods Bagot has completed an extension of Los Angeles International Airport

Self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs) brought the pieces to the site for installation, overseen by WE O'Neil Construction, with engineering from Buro Happold. It was assembled on site in just a few weeks.

Nine modular elements feature steel frames supporting lightweight concrete slabs, all set on metal decks, with each module connected via seismic joints.

The risk of earthquakes and the need for future adaptability drove the design.

The modular structure was prefabricated off-site

"In response to the conditions of southern California, the structure balances reduced weight – critical for transport and installation – with a robust lateral system," Woods Bagot principal Matt Ducharme told Dezeen.

"Each module incorporates a combination of moment frames and braced frames, providing stability while allowing for uninterrupted views along the concourse," he continued.

"The modular strategy also introduces long-term adaptability. Rather than a fixed piece of infrastructure, the concourse is conceived as a flexible system – capable of being disassembled, reconfigured, or expanded in response to future operational needs."

It has a brise-soleil made of aluminium

The concourse is connected to the rest of the airport via an underground tunnel.

According to Ducharme, the design language for MSC South referenced Tom Bradley International Terminal, which was designed by Fentress Architects, known for its design of Denver International Airport, among others.

The modular nature of the construction also affected the appearance of the design "to avoid overly rigid connections" – seen in the continous curtain wall and open interior spaces.

The modules were designed in line with the modular construction

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.

A points, the brise-soleil lifts off from the face of the structure, banded by a steel plate.

"The architectural language draws cues from the adjacent Tom Bradley International Terminal, with the brise-soleil geometry subtly aligning with the terminal’s roof profile to create continuity across the broader airport landscape," explained Ducharme.

Acoustic panelling inside mirrors the fins outside

Inside, continuous terrazzo flooring meets timber panelling. Ducharme said that the intent was to shift the language from "infrastructure to hospitality".

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.

Wood panelling was included inside

"The intent was to evoke a 'living room' quality, reducing pre-flight stress and enhancing passenger comfort," said Ducharme.

"Internally, the project reflects a broader shift in airport design – from transit space to inhabited space."

"The 'living room' concept introduces moments of pause within the linear journey, using light, material warmth, and views to soften the intensity of travel," he continued.

"Positioned between infrastructure and architecture, the concourse reframes the airport experience – balancing operational efficiency with a more human-centered approach to movement, waiting, and departure."

The design language references the adjacent international terminal

Overall, Woods Bagot said the design was meant to recall the modernist architecture of Los Angeles and to showcase the prevalence of off-site construction in airport design.

This additive approach comes at a time when cities are tearing down airports, sometimes unnecessarily demolishing older buildings, as writer Anthony Paletta wrote in a Dezeen opinion earlier this year.

Other studios that have worked with airports to install pre-fabricated elements include ZGF's Portland International Airport addition, where a massive timber roof was prefabricated and lifted on top of a new airport structure.

Woods Bagot was founded in Australia in the late 19th century and has multiple offices in the United States.

The photography is by Jason O'Rear. 

Project credits:

Design architect: Woods Bagot Associate architect: Raw International General contractor and construction manager: WE O'Neil Construction Structural engineer: Buro Happold Civil engineer: Mott MacDonald / MA Engineering Mechanical and plumbing engineer: Syska Hennessy Group Electrical engineer: PBS Engineering Geotechnical engineer: Diaz Yourman & Associates Sustainability consultant: Buro Happold Baggage handling, passenger boarding bridges and fueling: Swanson Rink IT, communications and security: TLC Engineering Solutions Wayfinding: Selbert Perkins Design Lighting design: Buro Happold Acoustics: Buro Happold Site investigations and surveying: Pfeiler & Associates Engineers Vertical transportation: Syska Hennessy Group code compliance: Jensen Hughes Fire protection: Schwab Engineering