EP.07 / Andrew Byrne, Grimshaw on the LAX Airport Metro Connector
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The Airport Metro Connector will link the forthcoming Automated People Mover at LAX to the LA Metro and associated bus terminals at Aviation Boulevard and 96th Street. The project, part of the wider Landside Access Modernisation Program underway at the airport, will create a fully intermodal facility and a new point of arrival into Los Angeles.
As Angelenos, we're all too familiar with the challenges of navigating the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). But, with the LAX Airport Metro Connector Project, we are set to experience a game-changing transformation in how people travel to and from one of the world's busiest airports. In this episode, I'm joined by Andrew Byrne, the managing partner at Grimshaw, an architecture firm known for its work in airport, rail, and mass transit designs, to discuss the intricacies of this ambitious project.
The goal of this project is to modernize the airport terminals, improve accessibility, and provide seamless connection between the Metro and the new LAX automated people mover. This will undoubtedly streamline travel in and out of LAX, reduce traffic congestion, and create an overall heightened passenger experience. In our conversation, Andrew shares his experience working with LA Metro, his vision for the future of public transportation in LA, and the key design principles of Grimshaw's projects.
We also dive into Andrew's background in architecture, his decision to move from London to Los Angeles, and Grimshaw's commitment to designing projects that are both functional and timeless.
About Andrew Byrne
Andrew is the Partner running Grimshaw's Los Angeles studio. Highly experienced in a broad range of project scales and types, he is highly committed to active design leadership and has made telling contributions to several of the firm’s award-winning projects. He is a Registered Architect in the State of California and a member of the American Institute of Architects, as well as a member of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects and the Royal Institute of British Architects. He earned his Bachelor of Architecture with Honors from the University of Melbourne.
After more than twelve years of experience in London with Grimshaw, Andrew relocated to Los Angeles in 2017 to establish and lead a new studio for the practice. Since joining Grimshaw Andrew has worked closely with large and complex client groups, including Network Rail, High Speed 2, LA Metro, LAWA and BAA. Andrew excels at understanding the complex forces that act on large-scale public buildings, and he enjoys working closely with clients and design collaborators to generate innovative design solutions that resolve challenging and at times conflicting requirements.
Andrew was the Principal in charge of the landmark London Bridge Station redevelopment. The cornerstone of the Thameslink improvement project, this scheme ensures that the station forms a seamless and sympathetic connection into the neighboring urban environment. The design includes a new concourse - greater in scale than the football pitch at Wembley, which is situated at street level - beneath the tracks. As part of his leadership of the project, Andrew facilitated the streamlined introduction of an additional 80,000 sq ft of commercial retail space into the scheme at a late stage in the design process. Andrew managed over 35 full-time architectural staff on this £450m project in a co-located project office. Andrew is based in Los Angeles.
Learn more about Grimshaw
https://grimshaw.global/
Topics Covered
How Grimshaw's designs enhance and simplify the traveler's experience
The successful collaboration between Grimshaw, Gruen Associates, and LA Metro
A peek into Grimshaw's various revolutionary projects
What to consider when designing a future-proof project
Working with multiple stakeholders, jurisdictions, and firms
Andrew's perspective on the use of public transportation in a car-centric city
Why Andrew moved to LA
A typical week for Andrew in his role at Grimshaw
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