TOM BRADLEY INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL VERTICAL CORE AND AUTOMATED PEOPLE MOVER INTERFACE AT LAX
The Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) expansion at LAX involved a 45-foot extension toward the east to accommodate a new vertical core, facilitating a direct connection to the Automated People Mover (APM) station on the east side of World Way. The vertical core is designed to align the APM pedestrian walkway, Security Screening Check Point, and aircraft gates on the same level. This thoughtful design enables departing and arriving passengers with pre-printed boarding passes and carry-on luggage to bypass terminal level changes, ticket lobbies, and baggage claim areas, streamlining their journey through the terminal.
The TBIT core is a critical component of the LAX Terminal Cores system, offering convenient access to terminal levels via escalators and elevators, with a seamless connection to the APM. Integrated into the terminal’s eastern façade, the core provides essential vertical circulation, along with restroom and office spaces. Departing passengers cross the elevated pedestrian bridge from the West CTA APM Station into the TBIT core, where they are greeted by an iconic Tom Bradley statue in a grand, three-story atrium.
A key design challenge was the seamless integration of new core elements into the existing terminal structure. Phased construction ensured uninterrupted terminal operations, with Phase 1 opening in December 2021 and the final phase completed in April 2024.
