United Airlines — Terminal 7, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

Los Angeles, CA

Awards

ENR California California Region Best Project Award - Airports/Transit

CMAA Construction Management Association of America Transportation (+$100M)

City of Los Angeles Green Business Program

Audubon International Green Hospitality Program - Gold

Photography: Nick Merrick | Hall+Merrick

Krueck Sexton Partners Design Architect | HNTB Prime & Architect of Record | Hensel Phelps Contractor

The project required the surgical removal of isolated structural elements while maintaining full airport operations to create a modern and unified passenger experience.

Designed in 1959, LAX Terminal 7 began with Pereira & Luckman’s iconic, elliptical satellite buildings. This once free-standing structure went through a series of renovations and connective additions to accommodate the nation’s second busiest airport ever-changing needs.

The accumulation of structures produced a fragmented passenger experience with congestion, spaces of varying heights and geometries, and a hodgepodge of lighting fixtures and finishes.

Through a highly collaborative design process, we create a cohesive design that simplifies passenger circulation and creates a whole — united by light.

Adapting the existing patchwork of buildings, incorporating a new Security and Screening Checkpoint addition.

The passenger circulation was simplified to a straight path with a direct line of sight from Entry to a grand stair to the Terminal gates, taking the experience from a six-turn to a single connected path from the car to the gate.

The project required the surgical removal of isolated structural elements while maintaining full airport operations to create a modern and unified passenger experience.

The architectural, structural, and construction management team collaborated closely to identify and preserve critical structural elements and determine phasing strategies that would permit passengers to access all airport components during construction and ensure a coherent final design.