LAX Cargo Building A
Los Angeles
Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum, Inc.

A classy industrial building perks up LAX's drab surroundings

© John Edward Linden

For more photos click on 'photos & drawings' above. To see the people and products behind this project click on 'people & products.'

High visibility from nearby Century Boulevard and the community’s desire to beautify the area led to the compelling design of this air cargo facility, which defies all conventional schemes for such a utilitarian facility. The building is designed to be straightforward and efficient, maximizing dock space, office space, and flexibility. Extensive landscaping screens the truck dock activity from Century Blvd. The warehouse provides 123,500 square feet of space uninterrupted by offices or other support functions. The southernmost span of sixty feet has a clear height of forty feet to allow for multilevel, high-bay automated ULD rack storage.

The facility’s offices are raised and positioned over the truck bays, creating a dramatic overhang along the entire building front. Trusses are visible through the windows, celebrating the building’s muscular structure and contributing to its style. The placement of offices allows the truck dock maximum frontage, provides weather protection, shields views of the truck dock from nearby buildings and creates an easily accessible public lobby filled with natural light. The offices also have a superb view overlooking the dock apron to a newly landscaped area beyond. Interior windows allow office personnel to continuously monitor activity on the warehouse floor. A central demising wall provides flexibility to accommodate two tenants of different sizes.

Unlike most other cargo facilities, the roof is completely free of mechanical equipment. Clerestory skylights are arranged to diffuse natural light to the warehouse space. Mechanical equipment is accommodated in roof wells, which are shielded from view by a system of metal louvers set flush with the roof.

Formal name of Project:
Los Angeles World Airports - Cargo Building A

Location:
Los Angeles

Gross square footage:
148,545 sq. ft.

Total construction cost:
$13 million

Owner:
Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA)
1 World Way
Los Angeles, CA 90009
(310) 646-7393

Architect:
Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum, Inc.
9530 Jefferson Boulevard
Culver City, CA 90232
Voice: (310) 838-9555
Fax: (310) 838 9586
www.hok.com