An astonishing feat in construction innovation! Structural frame achieved less than seven months after groundbreaking, using innovative OCR technique.
Courtesy Los Angeles World Airports
Placing the Final Structural Beam
Approximately seven months after its groundbreaking, Los Angeles International Airports (LAX)’s Midfield Satellite Concourse (MSC) South celebrated its topping out, a milestone that marks the placement of the project’s final structural beam.
The ceremony was attended by Councilwoman Traci Park of Council District 11, members of the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) executives and staff, and members of the design and construction team.
MSC South is an extension of the West Gates at Tom Bradley International Terminal and will add approximately 150,000 square feet and eight gates for narrowbody aircraft.
OCR: an Impressive Demonstration of Creativity
“LAX’s MSC South is an impressive demonstration of creativity from LAWA, W.E. O’Neil, and the entire project team that combines an on-site and off-site construction process that saves time and money,” said Brian Ramsay, Chief Executive Officer, W.E. O’Neil. “We feel fortunate to be working in collaboration with LAWA and all the partners helping to bring this project to a successful conclusion. MSC South is a shining example of how collaboration among the ownership, design, and construction teams can make such a unique project a success.”
Utilizing a construction technique called Offsite Construction and Relocation (OCR)—first-of-its-kind at LAX—MSC South is being built in nine segments roughly a mile and a half away from the project’s site. Once complete, these segments will be carefully delivered and assembled in place.
The OCR technique is both innovative and adaptive, saving public funds and time with a high degree of building control and supervision.
Axonometric and segment details of LAX’s Midfield Satellite Concourse (MSC) South. Courtesy Los Angeles World Airports.
With the topping out event hosted at MSC South’s Offsite Construction yard, guests were able to view the now complete structural frames of the segments and witness how this progressive building method is allowing LAWA and the project team to achieve the project’s rapid schedule without sacrificing design excellence or precision.
MSC South is being built in nine segments roughly a mile and a half away from the project’s site.
Career Pathways for Local Residents
Additionally, the OCR building technique supports new career pathways at LAX for local residents who are not eligible to perform work airside. This bolsters the project’s overall commitment to fostering economic opportunities through the airport’s transformation, placing a high priority on supporting local workers and business, as well as graduates of the airport’s esteemed HireLAX Apprenticeship Readiness Program.
To date, MSC South has put over $1 million in wages back into the local community, with 33% percent of the entire project team of 451 workers made up of local hires, earning an average hourly rate of $76.80. Furthermore, two HireLAX graduates have advanced their careers working on the project.
To date, MSC South has put over $1 million in wages back into the local community.
The W.E. O’Neil team celebrates together.
Accelerated Timeline, Budget Control, and Efficiency
“As we celebrate LAX’s MSC South’s Topping Out less than seven months after its Groundbreaking, I am proud to be progressing this first-of-its-kind building technique that is setting the bar for world-class design, and not just for the aviation sector,” said Bea Hsu, Interim Chief Executive Officer, LAWA. “The delivery model LAWA is innovating with our project partners at MSC South is enabling an accelerated timeline, budget control and efficiency. LAWA is grateful for the partnership of Woods Bagot, W.E. O’Neil, Buro Happold, SME Steel, and the entire design and construction team for their contributions.”
With MSC South’s topping out milestone achieved, construction on the project’s core and shell will proceed, with significant project completion planned for 2025. Stay tuned to our social media platforms and website news for additional updates as this exciting project unfolds.
LAX’s MSC South is an impressive demonstration of creativity from LAWA, W.E. O’Neil, and the entire project team that combines an on-site and off-site construction process that saves time and money.
Brian Ramsay, Chief Executive Officer, W.E. O’Neil
Rendering of LAX’s Midfield Satellite Concourse (MSC) South. Courtesy Los Angeles World Airports.
