Groundbreaking at LAWA Midfield Satellite Concourse (MSC) South
LAX’s newest concourse will add 8 gates in an accelerated timeline through a unique Offsite Construction and Relocation (OCR) building technique—first-of-its-kind at LAX.
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The nine segments of MSC South have been completed offsite! Each segment is now being relocated to LAX's newest concourse using the innovative OCR technique and Mammoet's SPMT.
The initial construction of the nine segments of the Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) Midfield Satellite Concourse (MSC) South has been completed offsite, and the relocation to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is currently underway using a cutting-edge Offsite Construction Relocation (OCR) method. On October 9, the third segment of the project was successfully delivered to the site, located just south of the West Gates at the Tom Bradley International Terminal.
Earlier this year, MSC South marked a major milestone by celebrating its topping-out ceremony, which signifies the placement of the final structural beam. Just nine months later, the construction of all nine segments has been completed, advancing the project towards its final stages. “LAX’s modernization applies to more than just the projects we build, it includes taking on bold and modern construction methods like Offsite Construction and Relocation that will enable us to deliver incredible facilities like MSC South, while saving time and money, and allowing us to create jobs for our local workforce,” said Michael Christensen, Chief Airport Development Officer, Los Angeles World Airports.
“The partnership and collaboration between LAWA, W.E. O’Neil and the entire project team is what brought us to this milestone, and I look forward to the project’s final completion next year. Together, we are setting a new standard for innovation in airport infrastructure.”
Michael Christensen
Chief Airport Development Officer, LAWA
Each segment is transported to the project site using two Self-Propelled Modular Transports (SPMT) provided by Mammoet. These relocations take place after midnight when temporary runway closures are in effect. Each segment embarks on a 1.75-mile journey at a controlled speed of 1.5 miles per hour. LAWA and project staff escort the transport on foot, monitoring for foreign object debris or any unforeseen issues. Following thorough inspections by LAX Airport Operations, the runways are reopened, allowing normal airport operations to resume by early morning. Relocations will continue throughout the month, with final construction extending through 2025.
See LAWA MSC South page’s “Project Stories” on how SPMTs works.
There is still a lot of work to be done from now until MSC South is complete, but there is no doubt in my mind that the team assembled on this project includes some of the best professionals our industry has to offer, and we will be back to celebrate the completion of this landmark Project with our partners at LAWA.
Mike Byrne
Executive Vice President (CA), W.E. O’Neil
We are proud to support and bring in local and disadvantaged businesses on this significant project. The construction team delivering MSC South includes 374 local workers and two graduates from HireLAX Apprenticeship Readiness Program, with over 30 percent representation from Los Angeles’s workforce. To date, more than 32 percent of total work hours have been completed by local workers, exceeding the project’s goal of 30 percent.
Michael Christensen, Chief Airport Development Officer (LAWA), noted “The partnership and collaboration between LAWA, W.E. O’Neil and the entire project team is what brought us to this milestone, and I look forward to the project’s final completion next year. Together, we are setting a new standard for innovation in airport infrastructure”
Our executives, Brian Ramsay (CEO), John Finn (COO and CA President), Mike Byrne (Executive VP, CA), Brian Rush (VP of Preconstruction, CA), and Jim Nelson (Project Executive, CA), were present to support and witness yet another milestone for the project and the entire W.E. O’Neil team. “I am so proud of our team on achieving this project milestone,” said Mike Byrne, Executive Vice President (CA). “There is still a lot of work to be done from now until MSC South is complete, but there is no doubt in my mind that the team assembled on this project includes some of the best professionals our industry has to offer, and we will be back to celebrate the completion of this landmark Project with our partners at LAWA.”
Once completed, MSC South will serve as an extension of the West Gates at Tom Bradley International Terminal, offering approximately 150,000 SF of space and eight gates for narrowbody aircraft.
Photos courtesy Los Angeles World Airports