PODCASTS > Arcat Detailed Podcast Episode

164: Streamline Moderne Renovation | Long Beach Airport

1h 2m 6s |

In this episode, Cherise is joined by Michael Bohn, AIA, Partner, and Kirk Keller, PLA, ASLA , Principal and Director of Landscape Architecture at Studio One Eleven in Long Beach, California. They discuss the Long Beach Airport Renovation and Historic Terminal Preservation Project completed in 2025.

Studio One Eleven’s renovation of Long Beach Airport is the culmination of a decade-long partnership with the City—an effort to elevate the airport into a world-class gateway while preserving the easygoing character that makes it unmistakably local. The most recent phase focuses on restoring the historic terminal, a Streamline Moderne landmark, by peeling back decades of alterations to reveal the clarity and elegance of its original design.

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Michael Bohn, AIA

Michael Bohn is senior principal at Studio One Eleven. He is a licensed architect and urban designer with more than 35 years of experience, bringing a deep passion for tactical urbanism and planning.

Michael Bohn, AIA is a partner with the firm Studio One Eleven. As a licensed architect, his focus has been on repairing communities through architecture, landscape, and urban design. His interest in innovation has resulted in the completion of the first parklets in Southern California, six modular housing developments utilizing wood, shipping container, and metal stud construction, adaptive reuse of over three dozen buildings including the firm's office in downtown Long Beach and five office-to-housing conversions. Michael is currently an active board member for the Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at California State University, the Downtown Long Beach Design District, and Urban Land Institute Affordable and Workforce Housing Council. He Co-Chairs the Housing Steering Committee for AIA California to identify and respond to housing challenges statewide, ultimately aiming to advance solutions to California's housing issues.

Kirk Keller, PLA, ASLA

Kirk Keller is a Principal at Studio One Eleven. He is a licensed landscape architect with over 25 years of experience and leads the landscape architecture practice.

Kirk Keller is Principal and Director of Landscape Architecture at Studio One Eleven, an integrated practice of architecture, landscape architecture and urban design dedicated to helping cities become more vibrant, livable, and sustainable. With special focus on public realm and urban development projects Kirk brings nearly three decades of experience in facilitating successful outcomes, working directly in partnership with city agencies, community groups and other organizations, to design and implement small and large-scale projects with speciï¬c, unique identities. He advocates for innovative design solutions that contribute to furthering equity and sustainable design with a strong sense of place.

Long Beach Airport, Long Beach California

Project Type: Enhanced Public Realm and Historical renovation of terminal building
Square Footage: terminal bldg.: 34,570 SF total
Project Size: Plaza 69,600 sf (1.6 acres) and 1/4 mile of new streetscape

Studio One Eleven aimed to enhance the Long Beach Airport as a world-class, yet locally distinctive gateway to the city, building upon over a decade of partnership with the City. This revitalization unfolded in three phases: Concessions, Greeting Plaza, and the recent Historic Terminal Preservation.

The latest phase advances this vision by improving functionality and reinforcing the airport's relaxed, resort-like ambiance. Long Beach Airport strives to be more than just a departure point, embodying the region's spirit as "Americaâs Coolest Airport." The historic terminal's restoration focused on revealing the original design's simplicity by removing later additions. Our approach balanced modernization with respect for preservation. The Streamline Moderne landmark was carefully restored with seismic upgrades and the unveiling of hidden WPA-era mosaics, honoring its legacy while meeting modern standards. New elements were designed to complement Long Beachâs character through similar forms, materials, and motifs.

A key opportunity was to redefine the airport experienceâmaking arrivals feel gracious, relaxed, and distinctly Southern Californian. Adapting the historic terminal for contemporary use presented challenges, including seismic upgrades and the delicate preservation of WPA-era artwork, demanding careful planning and execution.
Construction within an active airport requires a highly coordinated, phased approach to minimize disruption, involving temporary adjustments to traffic flow and plaza areas.

Every design choice prioritized the traveler's experience. The airport now offers a more enjoyable environment for arrival, waiting, and connection. The goal was to transform the airport into a memorable part of the journey. The historic terminal now serves as a central feature, seamlessly connecting indoor and outdoor spaces. Its interior waiting area opens to the central plaza, creating a smooth transition and establishing it as a prominent landmark for both arriving and departing passengers.

The recent improvements have made the airport feel unmistakably Long Beach, through native landscaping, WPA-era art, and revived historic airfield graphics in etched concrete. The laid-back, sun-soaked atmosphere and indoor-outdoor flow reflect the city's coastal character. The modern and historic terminals are harmoniously linked by an open-air central plaza. Furnishings and lighting were chosen to evoke a contemporary take on aviation heritageâboth local and forward-looking.

Studio One Eleven's material selection prioritized durability, sustainability, and a connection to the airport's history and environment, using warm woods, streamlined metalwork, and resilient heat reducing paving suitable for the Moderne architecture and Southern California climate. Lighting and furnishings were inspired by aviation design and flight. Sustainability was integrated through material and operational choices.

Outdoor spaces reduce the need for air conditioning and enhance comfort. Landscaping was selected for water efficiency and regional appropriateness. Reusing existing structures and historic features inherently promotes sustainability by extending the airportâs built heritage. The reintroduction of Grace Clements' WPA-era mosaics is particularly significant, reconnecting the airport to its cultural roots and reflecting our mission to honor history while creating enduring and inspiring spaces. The
meet-and-greet plaza, with its etched "LONG BEACH" lettering and flight-inspired catenary lighting, creates a welcoming civic space. Durable, timeless materials and thoughtful circulation will allow for graceful adaptation to future needs.

The Long Beach Airport reflects close collaboration between the design team, City leadership, airport staff, and the construction team. Input from various stakeholders shaped every aspect, from material selection to the sensitive restoration of historic elements, resulting in a functional, beautiful, and meaningful design for Long Beach residents and travelers.