City Recommends Firm for Renovations at LAX

After a six-month search, the city of Los Angeles has recommended that Leo A. Daley Architecture/Engineering be named the main designer of a $60-million renovation of the Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport.

The recommendation to the Board of Airport Commissioners means the 150,000-square-foot expansion moves closer to actual construction after nearly two years of discussion.

Building is expected to begin at the end of 1999, said Sam Tanaka, a senior civil engineer for the city. The design contract is expected to be awarded the first week in July, pending approval by the City Council.

Commissioners want to expand the terminal, which was built to help accommodate the 1984 Olympics, because it’s operating at double its planned capacity of 6.8 million passengers.

It is now served by nearly 40 foreign airlines, contrasted with 16 when it first opened, Tanaka said.

Preliminary plans call for an expansion of airline club lounges, a bigger baggage claim area and more concession businesses on the north and south concourses.

It is not the first expansion of the five-level terminal since its opening, but it will certainly be the biggest.

Last year, crews completed a $14-million face-lift of its restaurants, retail shops and seating areas.

Daley, which is headquartered in Nebraska but has one of its biggest offices in Los Angeles, has worked on previous LAX expansions, and also on the recently completed $375- million redevelopment of Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, said Roy Follmuth, managing principal.

Daley was selected from among 12 firms that responded to the city’s request for proposals.