LAX scheme part of programme to reduce car traffic ahead of next year’s World Cup and 2028 Olympic Games
Grimshaw has completed an intermodal transport hub in Los Angeles connecting the city’s largest airport with two metro lines and a bus station.
Designed with Arup and local landscape architect Gruen Associates, the LAX/Metro Transit Center Station aims to improve transport links to and from the airport ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
The station, which opened to passengers on Friday, spans more than 1,100ft from north to south on a previously industrial site.
The design features rows of skylights, sweeping canopies and glazed screens aiming to evoke a lightweight and spacious environment for passengers.
It is also designed as an open space that leverages California’s coastal climate by adopting passive design strategies for comfort, including shading by canopies, natural daylighting through skylights, and natural ventilation.
The project team also included Mott MacDonald on civil engineering, while Arup’s multidisciplinary role included structural engineering, facades, fire safety, acoustics and sustainability.
Andrew Byrne, managing director in Grimshaw’s LA studio, said the station “transcends the typical function of a transit hub, emerging as a significant civic landmark and gateway to the city’s transport network.”
“A hub of multi-modal activity, the station also exemplifies the importance of thoughtful infrastructure to accelerate the necessary shift in our cities: fostering economic vitality and equity and improving the quality of life for residents and visitors alike as Los Angeles moves towards a more sustainable and connected future.”
Gruen Associates’ partner-in-charge Debra Gerod said the scheme “serves as a new iconic entry point for air travelers arriving in Los Angeles.”
The project is part of a city-wide effort to reduce dependence on car traffic ahead of the World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by 16 cities in the US, Canada and Mexico, including Los Angeles.
The city will also host the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic games.
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