Travelers flying in and out of the Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX are going to be dazzled by a whole new world now that its $1.9 billion renovation is almost complete.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and former mayors Antonio Villaraigosa, Richard Riordan and James Hahn, along with other local officials, were on hand to at the unveiling of the new terminal Wednesday afternoon.
"The Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX is the first and last impression of Los Angeles for nine million travelers every year,” said Garcetti in a released statement. “This new terminal enhances passenger safety and security, while giving travelers the first-class airport experience they expect from a world-class city like Los Angeles."
The terminal itself now has nine new gates big enough to accommodate the newest jumbo jet designs. The waiting room, which is now a "great hall" named for Villaraigosa, has been upgraded with fancy sofas and chairs, massive art displays and more than 60 restaurants and luxury shops.
Of these, 22 are local companies: Fred Segal, Kitson, ink.sack, Umami Burger, 800 Degrees and the Larder at Tavern are just some of the LA brands that will be at TBIT. While the duty-free shops are open right now, the restaurants will open in a few weeks, said a spokeswoman to CBS2.
The new terminal will also be filled with massive public art installations, set to be complete later this year and early 2014, and the structure itself is also a work of art. Designed by architect Curtis Fentress, the new roof is inspired by the Pacific Ocean's breaking waves and the great hall is filled with natural daylight. Check out the slideshow below for renderings and explanations of the artwork.
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Art Installations At LAX's Tom Bradley International Terminal
Phase II, which will be completed by 2015, will add nine more gates and update the security and customs areas, according to a statement from LAX.
The Phase I renovations have been three years in the making. To see the construction from start to finish in just four minutes, check out the official LAX Bradley Terminal Renovation Time-Lapse video, published in June.