Fentress Architects' new Tom Bradley Terminal receives LEED Gold Certification

The new Tom Bradley International Airport (LAX), a Los Angeles landmark building, has achieved LEED Gold certification.

The building, designed by Fentress Architects, features a dramatic arching roofline, daylighting, energy-efficient design and eco-friendly materials. The terminal is not only sustainable, it is also among the most technologically-advanced airports in the United States.

The 1.25-million-square-foot terminal is inspired by ocean waves and is Fentress Architects’ thirty-second LEED project-the architects designed Sacramento’s new airport as well as Terminal B at San Jose International. Its interior comprises different media features with more than 12,000-square-feet of LED tiles and hundreds of LCD screens.

Several recycled and regionally sourced materials were used in the construction of the building, while sustainable building techniques were used, including using specific routes to and from the site for construction vehicles, and recycling construction materials and demolition debris. The concourse features low-E glass which minimizes heat gain, while different lighting controls reduce energy use.

The terminal has a roof line which references the form of crashing waves and a ceiling which reduces solar glare and heat from the ocean, while providing additional lighting. The ceiling is supported by a skeletal framework of structural ribs and frames a spacious interior that resembles the inside of a whale.