This article is part of a directory: Airport Of The Month: Los Angeles International
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If you’ve ever passed through Los Angeles International (LAX), you’ll probably have noticed the rather futuristic-looking structure in the middle of the airport. Sometimes mistaken for some sort of control tower, the ‘Theme Building’ is actually not much more than a grandiose observation deck, but it wasn’t always that way.

It should have been so much more

Back in the 1950s, the atomic Space Age was all the rage. Googie architecture abounded in Los Angeles. Thus, it was only natural that the city’s busy airport wanted in on the action. Enter Pereira & Luckman, a leading mid-century LA-based architectural firm. With clients ranging from Hilton Hotels to NASA, they had some grand designs for an icon at LAX.

The architects sketched out ideas for a jaw-dropping glass dome in the heart of the airport. It would connect all the airport’s terminals and parking facilities and would essentially become the hub of LAX. But that, sadly, was a dream that would never be realized.

The project was scaled down somewhat, and in 1961 emerged as the structure that has become so familiar today. Described by some as a ‘spider’ or a ‘spaceship,’ the design was iconic of the mid-century-modern era.

Built at the cost of $2.2 million, it housed a glamorous restaurant 80 feet above the ground, with a glass-walled viewing platform on top.

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An avgeeks dining dream

In the center of the two parabolic arches is a glass-fronted, flying saucer-esque building. Inside of this was a restaurant that was every avgeek's dream. For many years, families could enjoy a delicious meal with 360-degree views of Los Angeles and the airport. Visitors were also welcome to head up to the observation deck above to watch the planes take off and land.

While it wasn’t all it could have been, had the architects had their way, it was still a graceful and eye-catching building that paid homage to a formative period in design. For this reason, in 1992, the city declared it a Historical-Cultural Monument, affording it some protections from demolition and alteration.

As the restaurant became outdated, a helping hand arrived in the form of the Disney Corporation. A team of ‘imagineers’, including Eddie Sotto – creator of the Main Street Show at Disneyland Paris – got to work reinventing the interior of the restaurant. Embracing the Space Age theme of the building itself, they transomed the interior into an out-of-this-world experience for diners to enjoy. The restaurant was renamed ‘Encounter.’

Sadly, the wonders of Encounter were to be short-lived. The attacks of 9/11 meant security at the airport was heightened, leading to the observation deck being closed to visitors.

Closing for good

In 2007, a half ton chunk of stucco from one of the arches fell onto the restaurant. Following eight months of work, the restaurant reopened, and in 2010, the observation deck was opened to visitors on the weekends.

However, the damage had been done. The Theme Building was in a nonsecure area of the airport, meaning it could only be visited before passing through security or leaving the airside area and having to go through the checkpoint again to fly. It was unsustainable, and the restaurant permanently closed in 2013.

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Could the future be better?

The Bop Hope United Service Organizations (USO) nonprofit at LAX shifted to the ground floor of the building in 2018. It opened a 7,100-square-foot department at the site.

Moreover, LAX has been undergoing some fairly major renovation and construction projects. Amid these discussions, there have been talks about reutilizing the building as part of the project. There have been talks of turning it into a conference center or perhaps as part of a hotel development.

LAX Theme Building
Photo: Idealphotographer/Shutterstock

Despite the redeployment of the building over the years, it's primarily a landmark highlighting an influential time in US and global aviation. It's a pop culture icon, seen in several movies, programs, video games, and literature, and remains a fond site for those traveling to and from Southern California.

Did you ever visit the Theme Building? What do you make of the site's overall history? Let us know what you think about it in the comment section.

  • Airfield - LAWA Brosseau - 4
    Los Angeles International Airport
    IATA/ICAO Code:
    LAX/KLAX
    Country:
    United States
    CEO:
    Justin Erbacci
    Passenger Count :
    48,007,284 (2021)
    Runways :
    6L/24R - 2,721m (8,926 ft) | 6R/24L - 3,318m (10,885 ft) | 7L/25R - 3,939m (12,923 ft) | 7R/25L - 3,382m (11,095 ft)
    Terminals:
    Terminal 1 | Terminal 2 | Terminal 3 | Tom Bradley International Terminal | Terminal 4 | Terminal 5 | Terminal 6 | Terminal 7 | Terminal 8