Midfield Satellite Concourse (MSC) South will further reduce LAX’s reliance on remote gates and provide an enhanced guest experience through ready access to concessions, services, and lounge areas at the new MSC North and Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT).
LAX’s MSC South Concourse redefines what’s possible in construction, using an innovative OCR method to significantly reduce build time while setting a new standard for sustainable, context-driven design in Los Angeles.
Talk to Matt Ducharme about LAX Midfield Satellite Concourse (MSC) South
Engineered for transport, installation, and long-term flexibility, Midfield Satellite Concourse (MSC) South reflects a broader evolution in airport architecture: one that balances operational performance with a more human-centered approach to movement, waiting, and departure.
At Los Angeles International Airport, MSC South reimagines the satellite concourse as both high-performing infrastructure and a more welcoming passenger environment. Delivered through an off-site construction approach and assembled on site in just a matter of weeks, the project adds 150,000 square feet and eight gates to the Tom Bradley International Terminal while maintaining airport operations throughout construction.
The design responds to the demands of seismic resilience, accelerated delivery, and future adaptability, but also seeks to elevate the experience of travel. Rather than functioning solely as an extension of the airport, MSC South is conceived as a place of transition that brings greater clarity, comfort, and calm to the passenger journey. Light, openness, and material warmth help soften the pace of movement through the terminal, creating a more intuitive and humane experience.
A continuous curtain wall and carefully modulated exterior expression give the concourse a strong architectural identity, while powder-coated aluminium fins provide both shading and a visual connection to the adjacent Tom Bradley International Terminal. Inside, terrazzo flooring, timber wall finishes, and perforated acoustic ceilings introduce warmth and texture, shifting the atmosphere from infrastructure toward hospitality. The design is intentionally restrained, allowing the experience of the space to feel coherent, legible, and distinctly tied to its setting.
“This project is an inspiring example of how construction innovation can drive more sustainable building outcomes”
Woods Bagot, together with Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), Buro Happold, W.E. O’Neil, and other design and construction team members have begun the process of relocating segments of the Midfield Satellite Concourse (MSC) South project from the offsite construction location to the project site located south of the West Gates at Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Woods Bagot joined members of the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) executives, and staff and members of the W.E. O’Neil Construction team, to celebrate the groundbreaking of LAX’s Midfield Satellite Concourse (MSC) South.
“Drawing inspiration from California Modernism, the design for LAX’s MSC South captures a feeling of ease, simple but functional design, and timeless beauty.”
The intent was to evoke a ‘living room’ quality, reducing pre-flight stress and enhancing passenger comfort. Internally, the project reflects a broader shift in airport design, one from transit space to inhabited space.
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