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Travel & Experiences

LAX: An inside look at the new Tom Bradley International Terminal

Passengers who have passed through airport security will encounter the Bon Voyage Wall before heading into the Great Hall and departure gates. The wall shows images of people jumping in slow motion.

Passengers who have passed through airport security will encounter the Bon Voyage Wall before heading into the Great Hall and departure gates. The wall shows images of people jumping in slow motion.  (Mary Forgione / Los Angeles Times)

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The Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX officially opened Wednesday, mostly. Airlines started using the new, smarter gates that can handle big aircraft, including the Airbus A380s. Inside, Southern California scenes and quirky videos played on seven huge multimedia features while passengers relaxed at the lounge-like seating in the Great Hall or shopped in the 25,000-square-foot duty-free shop. Many restaurants and high-ends shops weren’t yet open, but officials say they’ll be rolled out in coming weeks. Here’s a look at the terminal’s new $1.9-billion upgrade, a project that won’t be completely finished until 2015.

-- Mary Forgione

Tom Bradley Terminal at LAX

The seating area inside the Great Hall, with the 72-foot-tall Time Tower that doubles as an elevator, features plush seats with a lounge feel.  (Mary Forgione / Los Angeles Times)

Tom Bradley Terminal at LAX

Cozy chairs and open seating appear near the Time Tower. Other areas of the airport have more typical rows of airport seats fitted with USB and charging portals.   (Mary Forgione / Los Angeles Times)

Tom Bradley Terminal at LAX

Passengers relax in the Great Hall at the Tom Bradly terminal at LAX last year.  (Mary Forgione / Los Angeles Times)

Tom Bradley Terminal at LAX

The Time Tower is the dominant digital feature in the hall. Here it displays a short called “Dance Time,” which feels like a throwback to Busby Berkeley days. The tower’s content was produced and created by Moment Factory in Montreal and L.A.’s Digital Kitchen.  (Mary Forgione / Los Angeles Times)

Tom Bradley Terminal at LAX

Multimedia displays featuring 60 LCD monitors arranged in 10 columns appear at the entrance to the north and south gates. They provide images meant to evoke different countries. The images change or play music as passengers move close. The display shown here shows images of England.  (Mary Forgione / Los Angeles Times)

Tom Bradley Terminal at LAX

An island in the Great Hall will be the home of upscale shops such as Coach and Bulgari, but they hadn’t opened on Wednesday.  (Mary Forgione / Los Angeles Times)

Tom Bradley Terminal at LAX

The new duty-free shop features top designers such as Hermes and Gucci and covers 25,000 square feet.  (Mary Forgione / Los Angeles Times)

Tom Bradley Terminal at LAX

The new food area will be the home of highly touted L.A. eateries such as Umami Burger and 800 Degrees. (You can’t stop by just to eat; they’re for post-security passengers only.)  (Mary Forgione / Los Angeles Times)

Tom Bradley Terminal at LAX

A plaque reminds travelers that although the terminal may be named for L.A. Mayor Tom Bradley, a part of the great hall is dedicated to former Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.  (Mary Forgione / Los Angeles Times)

Tom Bradley Terminal at LAX

A lounge area near dining stops such as Vino Volo faces the airfield.  (Mary Forgione / Los Angeles Times)

Tom Bradley Terminal at LAX

The lounge area features eating counters like this one that has plug-ins for electronics users.  (Mary Forgione / Los Angeles Times)

Tom Bradley Terminal at LAX

The waves of Southern California shown here sweep across multiple screens in the great hall.  (Mary Forgione / Los Angeles Times)

Tom Bradley Terminal at LAX

What won’t look different: the entrance to the pre-security area at the Bradley Terminal. The front of the terminal won’t get a facelift for a few years.  (Mary Forgione / Los Angeles Times)

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