The Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), the Pacific gateway to the United States, has recently been awarded LEED Gold certification for its new Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT), the crown jewel of the Bradley West renovation.
With its 116,000 sqm (1.25-million-square-foot) built area, the LAX is one of the largest LEED rated airport terminal in the United States. Designed by Fentress Architects, TBIT is not only sustainable, it is America’s most technologically-advanced airport to date.
Sustainability was a key focus of the Bradley West program, and all projects incorporate sustainable design features that promote energy efficiency while mitigating adverse environmental impacts.
The new terminal is bright and airy, with abundant natural daylight and natural ventilation to minimize energy use.
Low-E glass was used along the airside concourse to minimize heat gain, and lighting controls reduce energy use. Low-flow water fixtures have reduced water usage 47.8 percent over baseline predictions. The building structure and finishes employed regional and recycled materials. Sustainable techniques used during construction included designating specific routes to and from the site for construction vehicles, and recycling construction materials and demolition debris.
Concrete mixers and other equipment were placed onsite in order to reduce the number of trips made, and construction equipment was retrofitted with emission- and noise-reduction devices.
Source: Fentress Architects