From World Journal
By To-wen Tseng, Staff Writer
LAX is considering a design contract with Gin Wong Associates. Gin D. Wong, the founder and chairman of Gin Wong Associates, is a legendary architect. Prior to opening his own office, Wong has associated with other architectural firms and participated the 1952 LAX master plan. Since founding his own firm, Wong has designed some of the most prominent landmarks on the West Coast.
LAX Board of Airport Commissioners will soon meet and discuss a $8 million contract for capital improvement projects, according to the commission secretary. A spokesperson from LAWA, the company that owns and operates LAX, said that Gin Wong Associates is the ideal candidate.
LAWA favors Wong, because he has a unique history with LAX. Born in Guangzhou, China, Wong immigrated to the U.S. at the age of 10 and was educated in this country. In 1952, three planning and architectural firms were contracted to design a master plan for a complete re-design for LAX. Wong, then 35-year-old, was the VP of design at one of the three firms and participated in the project.
The 1952 LAX master plan was completed in five years. Back then the airport had only six terminals and the departing and arriving roadways were on the same level.
In 1978 the city of Los Angeles began a $700 million redevelopment of LAX in preparation for the 1982 Summer Olympics. Gin Wong Associates acted as the supervising architect for this project. Terminal 1 and Tom Bradley International Terminal was constructed, Terminal 2 was rebuilt, a second level roadway was add for departing passengers, and additional parking structures were built.
The redevelopment project was completed in six years. "That was a big project. We finished everything right on time for Olympics," Wong recalled.
Before the redevelopment, LAX greet 9 million passengers each year. After the redevelopment, the number of passengers per year grew more than 3 times to 30 million.
Wong has a even longer history with airport and aircraft. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps and was on active duty in the South Pacific as a navigator. He flew B-29 with the 20th Air Force. Upon his return, Wong enrolled in USC and then graduated from the School of Architecture.
Wong said he enjoyed flying. "It helps me to design the airport. Because I know how to fly an aircraft, I know the airplanes, and I know their needs of an airport."
Wong already has all kinds of ideas of the not-yet-signed contract. He said if the contract is granted to his firm, his biggest wish is to create comfortable space for passengers.
"Times have changed," he said. "They used to offer you food on the airplane. Now the domestic flights don't offer food on the airplane anymore. So you have to eat at the airport. So the airport has to bring in food merchandise. So I have to create comfortable dining environment for them."
The passenger traffic at LAX is also increasing. Wong said he will design a smooth moving line for the security, the gate, and the baggage claim area.
In addition to LAX, many of the most prominent landmarks on the West Coast, including the Four Seasons Hotel at Beverly Hills, the ARCO Center at Downtown LA, and the Automobile Club of Southern California at Costa Mesa, are all Wong's master work.
Among so many works, which one is Wong's favorite? The architecture master, now 91-year-old yet had no plan to retire, smiled, "the next."
By To-wen Tseng, Staff Writer
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| Gin D. Wong and some of his works. (To-wen Tseng/World Journal) |
LAX Board of Airport Commissioners will soon meet and discuss a $8 million contract for capital improvement projects, according to the commission secretary. A spokesperson from LAWA, the company that owns and operates LAX, said that Gin Wong Associates is the ideal candidate.
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| ARCO Center in LA. (Gin Wong Associates) |
The 1952 LAX master plan was completed in five years. Back then the airport had only six terminals and the departing and arriving roadways were on the same level.
In 1978 the city of Los Angeles began a $700 million redevelopment of LAX in preparation for the 1982 Summer Olympics. Gin Wong Associates acted as the supervising architect for this project. Terminal 1 and Tom Bradley International Terminal was constructed, Terminal 2 was rebuilt, a second level roadway was add for departing passengers, and additional parking structures were built.
The redevelopment project was completed in six years. "That was a big project. We finished everything right on time for Olympics," Wong recalled.
Before the redevelopment, LAX greet 9 million passengers each year. After the redevelopment, the number of passengers per year grew more than 3 times to 30 million.
Wong has a even longer history with airport and aircraft. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps and was on active duty in the South Pacific as a navigator. He flew B-29 with the 20th Air Force. Upon his return, Wong enrolled in USC and then graduated from the School of Architecture.
Wong said he enjoyed flying. "It helps me to design the airport. Because I know how to fly an aircraft, I know the airplanes, and I know their needs of an airport."
Wong already has all kinds of ideas of the not-yet-signed contract. He said if the contract is granted to his firm, his biggest wish is to create comfortable space for passengers.
"Times have changed," he said. "They used to offer you food on the airplane. Now the domestic flights don't offer food on the airplane anymore. So you have to eat at the airport. So the airport has to bring in food merchandise. So I have to create comfortable dining environment for them."
The passenger traffic at LAX is also increasing. Wong said he will design a smooth moving line for the security, the gate, and the baggage claim area.
In addition to LAX, many of the most prominent landmarks on the West Coast, including the Four Seasons Hotel at Beverly Hills, the ARCO Center at Downtown LA, and the Automobile Club of Southern California at Costa Mesa, are all Wong's master work.
Among so many works, which one is Wong's favorite? The architecture master, now 91-year-old yet had no plan to retire, smiled, "the next."
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