Photo Credit: Pablo Mason
Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) embarked on a massive $5.5-billion project known as the Landside Access Modernization Program (LAMP) to relieve traffic and congestion at the world’s fourth busiest airport. The LAX Economy Parking Structure is the first major LAMP component to open to the public. Work took place at a busy international airport operating 24/7 with stringent FAA regulations requiring highly complex logistics plans. The 1.7 million sq. ft. progressive design-build project features 4,300 stalls across four levels, boosting LAX parking capacity by 57%. It also features a parking guidance system that integrates the latest smart parking technology. As a result, it now offers travelers convenient access to LAX without needing to enter the traffic-congested Central Terminal Area (CTA).
Maximum Collaboration Boosts the User Experience
This project’s success would not have been possible had it not been for the progressive design-build delivery model. This model was integral to facilitating significant programming changes late in design. In addition, close collaboration and exhaustive teamwork between LAWA, Swinerton, Watry Design and Gensler resulted in adding several amenities and features to improve the user experience that were not part of the initial design. This included a meet-and-greet area, escalators, expanded lightwells and enhanced pedestrian pathways.
In addition to overcoming this design challenge, the collaborative nature of progressive design-build also uniquely positioned the team to manage the expectations and needs of an extensive network of stakeholders, including LAWA; LAX; FAA; LADBS; National, State, County and City regulatory agencies; and general contracting teams from adjacent Landside Access Modernization Program (LAMP) projects.
Design-Build Team
| Client/Owner: | Los Angeles World Airports |
| Design-Build Firm: | Swinerton Builders |
| Architect: | Watry Design, Inc. / Gensler |
| Engineer: | KPFF Civil |
| Specialty Contractors: | Lynn Capouya, Inc. Landscape Architects |
| Construction Duration: | 26 Months |
| Project Cost: | $297.2 Million |
