For LAX, Unique Offsite-Built Concourse Takes Shape (via Buro Happold)

Investing in a true U.S. innovation, Los Angeles International Airports has revealed photos and details of its new concourse project, “utilizing a first-of-its-kind construction technique called Offsite Construction and Relocation (OCR) … being built in nine segments roughly a mile and a half away from the project’s site.”

LAX’s Midfield Satellite Concourse South, known as MSC South, is taking shape on the open site and will be moved, segment by segment, to its location extending the West Gates at Tom Bradley International Terminal. The architect is Woods Bagot with Raw International, and Buro Happold is the structural engineer and sustainability consultant, as well as lighting and acoustical designer. W.E. O’Neil Construction is building the pioneering airside facility.

Los Angeles World Airports has hailed the OCR design approach as “both innovative and adaptive, saving public funds and time with a high degree of building control and supervision.”

Buro Happold’s team describes the novel MSC South work as “part of a larger initiative at LAX that is creating modernized and efficient terminals for passengers and airport operators.”

“Its nine independent segments are connected by seismic joints. Each segment was designed with an independent lateral system consisting of buckling restrained braced frames in the east-west direction and Simspon Yield Link moment frames in the north-south direction to allow for access to gates along the terminal length,” adds Buro Happold’s structural design team. “Additional analysis was then undertaken to determine the lifting points of each segment and the impacts on the members and connections for the transportation loading case.”

Said Bea Hsu, Interim Chief Executive Officer for Los Angeles World Airports, or LAWA, “The delivery model LAWA is innovating with our project partners at MSC South is enabling an accelerated timeline, budget control and efficiency. LAWA is grateful for the partnership of Woods Bagot, W.E. O’Neil, Buro Happold, SME Steel and the entire design and construction team for their contributions.”

The design team is focused on the next phases of their first-of-its-kind approach for a major U.S. airport: integrated design for manufacturing and assembly (DFMA).

“DFMA also supports circularity,” adds Buro Happold’s Herd, referring to the design of systems and components that allow for reuse at the end of a building’s useful life cycle. “Buro Happold’s commitment to sustainability is holistic, including everything from energy-efficiency to occupant wellbeing to reduction of harm related to extracting natural resources.”