LOS ANGELES-The updated Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport has a gala preview tonight, highlighted by the first look at a 72-foot-tall digital Time Tower that will be the terminal's centerpiece.

The Bradley Terminal, named for the former mayor of Los Angeles, is expected to be completed later this year, but officials are showing off the facility and its new additions now. Tonight's VIP bash will be followed on Saturday by a rededication of a bronze bust of Bradley and public open house.

The new Bradley Terminal is part of the $4.1 billion LAX Capital Improvements Program-Phase 1, the largest public works project in the city's history. The Bradley terminal construction is estimated to cost $1.5 billion, and officials say it presently remains within budget.

The revamped terminal will include additional airline club lounge space, more food and beverage concessions, rebuilt aircraft parking aprons and two new aircraft taxi lanes.

At the VIP gala, the Hollywood Scoring Orchestra will debut an original symphonic overture, “Portale – A Symphonic Poem,” commissioned by terminal concessions manager the Westfield Group. The piece celebrates the new terminal. There will also be a performing ensemble of 70, featuring performances by the International Children's Choir, multi-ethnic percussionists and soloists.

Global restaurateur HMSHost, in partnership with the Westfield Group, will introduce seven of the local dining attractions slated for the new terminal. They include Border Grill, ink sack, Larder at Tavern, Umami Burger, Chaya, 800 Degrees and Vanilla Bake Shop. There will be 31 dining options available when the terminal formally launches. Renowned chefs Michael Voltaggio, Susan Feniger, Mary Sue Milliken, Suzanne Goins, and others are among those represented at the new terminal.

HMSHost will also open one of the first Starbucks Evenings in the country in the terminal. The concept features coffee during the day and wine or beer at night. The evening fare will include snacks and small plates, such as bacon-wrapped dates, flatbreads with artichoke and goat cheese, and truffle mac and cheese. HMSHost will also be opening a second, traditional Starbucks location in the terminal.

The preview will spotlight the South Concourse Aircraft Gate Areas and the 150,000-square-foot Great Hall, which will feature more than 60 dining and luxury retail shops, including 22 local L.A. brands. The terminal also features advanced multimedia, the Integrated Environmental Media Systems (termed IEMS). 

The Time Tower is an interactive media structure with changing clock faces, part of the IEMS system. The IEMS Project is comprised of seven iconic, scaled media features built within the new terminal's architecture and designed to enhance a particular aspect of departure or arrival.

In addition to the multimedia, three permanent public artworks will be installed later this year and next. Three local artists and their teams have been commissioned, including Ball-Nogues Studio, which will create a hovering sculpture titled Air Garden; Pae White Studio, creating a suspended tapestry titled Woven Walk; and Mark Bradford, who will create a sculpture titled Bell Tower that will be suspended above a new security screening area.

HMSHost VP of business development Joe Waller called the food offerings “the creation of L.A.'s most innovative and respected chefs and restaurateurs. We could not be prouder about partnering with them to create a truly exceptional culinary program that is worthy of this beautiful new L.A. landmark.”

Peter S. Lowy, co-CEO of the Westfield Group, said the Westfield designers “completely transform the airport experience into the LAX travelers have dreamed of, and the LAX they deserve.”

The outgoing mayor also had a comment.  “The Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX is the first and last impression nine million travelers have of Los Angeles every year,” said a statement from Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. “This new terminal enhances passenger safety and security while giving travelers the first-class airport experience they expect from a world-class city like Los Angeles.”

As previously reported by GlobeSt.com, the Bradley Terminal isn't the only renovation at LAX. The Delta Terminal is also getting a $229-million facelift.