For Immediate Release
Aug. 22, 2019
Contact:
Frederick Badlissi
(424) 646-5260
(Los Angeles, CA) Just in time for the first week of classes, officials from Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) and the Inglewood Unified School District (IUSD) are celebrating the completed installation of new sound insulation at Beulah Payne Elementary School. The sound insulation project included classrooms, administrative buildings and the school's multi-purpose auditorium.
"Los Angeles World Airports is pleased to fulfill its commitment to the students and staff of Beulah Payne Elementary School so they can begin their school year in newly soundproofed classrooms and administrative buildings," said Samantha Bricker, Chief Environmental and Sustainability Officer, LAWA. "This is one of several school soundproofing projects that are being funded by LAWA for the benefit of local students and the community."
The $2.8 million project included the installation of new acoustic windows and doors, additional wall and ceiling insulation, updated heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, and other modifications intended to reduce interior noise levels. These measures are expected to reduce interior noise levels by 5 decibels and achieve interior noise levels at or below 45 decibels. Normal conversations range between 50 and 60 decibels. The new installations also allow more natural light into the classroom while reducing energy consumption.
"We are beyond pleased with the outcomes of our partnership with LAWA at Buelah Payne," said Thelma Melendez, State Administrator, IUSD. "It is our mission to provide our students with the best educational opportunities and these newly renovated facilities enhance our students everyday learning environment."
LAWA funded the project through the Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) at LAX. The Federal Aviation Administration approved the collection of the PFC and expenditure for this program, which fulfills a commitment made by LAWA to provide funding to IUSD for sound insulation.
The project is part of LAWA's commitment to insulate four IUSD schools. Insulation work at Beulah Payne Elementary began in May 2018 concurrently with the construction of new buildings, and is the first of the four schools to have sound insulation work completed. Sound insulation projects at Monroe Middle School, Morningside High School, and Oak Street Elementary are ongoing.
Photos of a classroom's interior during construction (left) and after completion.
LAX, the fourth-busiest airport in the world and second busiest in the United States, was named a top-10 U.S. airport by SKYTRAX. LAX served more than 87.5 million passengers in 2018 and offers an average of 700 daily nonstop flights to 109 cities in the U.S. and 1,281 weekly nonstop flights to 93 markets in 47 countries on 69 commercial airlines. LAX ranks 10th in the world in air cargo tonnage processed, with more than 2.4 million tons of air cargo. LAX handled 707,883 operations (landings and takeoffs) in 2018.
LAX generated 620,600 jobs in Southern California, with labor income of $37.3 billion and economic output (business revenues) of more than $126.6 billion, according to an economic study based on 2014 operations. This activity added $6.2 billion to local and state revenues and $8.7 billion in federal tax revenues. The study also reported that LAX’s ongoing capital improvement program creates an additional 121,640 annual jobs with labor income of $7.6 billion and economic output of $20.3 billion; $966 million in state and local taxes; and $1.6 billion in federal tax revenues.
LAX was honored as having the “Best Overall Customer Service Program” by Airports Council International-North America; named the “Best Airport for Breastfeeding Moms” by Mamava; selected for the Top 10 “Best of the U.S.’s Big Airports” (Wall Street Journal) and “Most Pet-Friendly Airports in the U.S. (Mental Floss); named the second-most improved airport in the U.S. by JD Power; received an “Innovation Award” from the L.A. Better Business Challenge for its Central Utility Plant; and named a “Business Leader in Air Quality” by the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
LAX is also the second-most popular airport in the world to appear on Instagram, according to wego.com. LAX is part of a system of two Southern California airports – along with Van Nuys general aviation – that are owned and operated by Los Angeles World Airports, a proprietary department of the City of Los Angeles that receives no funding from the City’s general fund.
As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and, upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities. Alternative formats in large print, braille, audio, and other forms (if possible) will be provided upon request.
