Preciosa’s Crystal Swell installation shines brightly at the recently opened West Gates at Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

“We knew that this space would be the front door of the building, so we wanted something very dynamic and dramatic,” said Brent Kelley, managing principal and co-head of the aviation sector at Corgan, the award-winning firm responsible for the project’s architectural and interior design services. “We were looking for something that would attract passengers and be visually interesting. The installation is a perfect complement to the design of the facility.”

Crystal Swell spans three levels and is inspired by an ocean wave breaking on the nearby ocean shore.  It combines the simplicity associated with the “mid-century jet age” modern design of the International Terminal and the structural requirements needed to meet the stringent seismic codes developed for installations of this nature.

The installation’s colour options provide passengers with a variety of experiences

Sarka Olivova, a senior member of Preciosa’s design team, was challenged with the creation of a dazzling design that would also satisfy Preciosa Lighting and the airport’s safety requirements. The Preciosa engineering team, led by Radek Pytlik, had to ensure that any issues pertaining to the lighting’s installation would be addressed and that an earthquake would not impact the fixture’s structural integrity.

Preciosa’s R&D team conducted modal, spectral, and gravity tests in a variety of severe environmental conditions using specialized testing equipment in the company’s state–of-the-art Innovation Lab. The Lab also features a dark room and advanced electronic systems to create interactive elements for lighting installations.