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Right: Portland International Airport is finishing up its $2.15 billion PDX Next new terminal project, which blends sustainable, modern amenities with hyperlocal design touches. Phase 1 will open in May, while Phase 2 is expected to be completed next year. (photo credit: Courtesy of Port of Portland)

After the airport’s Concourse A was torn down in 2019, the PDX team worked with ZGF Architects to finalize plans for a new terminal in 2020 and began construction in 2021. Building a new terminal that fully reflected Portland’s outdoorsy reputation was a key priority in the design process, says, Ferré, who notes that the main terminal’s open-air feel is “inspired by a walk in the forest.” The new main terminal “will bring elements of the great outdoors even closer to PDX, and the biophilic design is a nod to the landscapes of the region,” she adds, noting that “travelers will see plant life throughout and real-life trees forming a mini-greenway in the core of the airport, with thoughtfully placed skylights mimicking sun rays peeking through evergreen trees.” ZGF has a long history with PDX, says lead designer Gene Sandoval, which began in 1965 when Port of Portland developed a master plan that doubled the size of the original terminal. The group has remained the Port’s primary architectural partner, partnering with the airport on numerous expansions and renovations over the years. For the team at ZGF, “One of our biggest challenges was how to modernize and evolve this vintage airport and keep it operational while expanding it,” he adds, noting that during the PDX Next project they were able to minimize passenger disruption and keep PDX’s ticket lobby and checkpoints uninterrupted throughout the five-year construction window. When it came to design, “we wanted to enhance the passenger experience by leveraging a comprehensive biophilic design strategy,” says Sandoval of the terminal’s more than 5,000 plants, 72 large trees - some up to 25’ tall - and cascading gardens. “Biophilic design helps increase traveler comfort and employee productivity,” he says. “As a result, the environment at PDX is designed to reduce the stress experienced by many while traveling. Almost every corner of the new terminal features touches of Oregon’s signature greenery and access to natural light.” The landscape flow “also acts as a wayfinding tool,” notes Sandoval, in taking passengers from security checkpoints to terminal gates.

Prioritizing Sustainability Another crucial priority for the project? Sustainability. Sandoval emphasizes that the ZGF and PDX teams were able to reuse much of the airport’s current infrastructure in the renovation process, as well as optimize airport energy usage. “For operational carbon, the size of PDX’s main terminal was doubled while cutting energy use in half, and space heating was electrified with an open loop, ground source heat pump,” he explains. “This allows the project to continue to save operational carbon as the utility grid greens over time,” he adds, noting that the teams also worked to ensure that the new terminal is future-proofed both for increases in passenger traffic and against threats from the Cascadia subduction zone. “When the architects at ZGF proposed building a nine-acre mass timber roof for the new main terminal, we responded with a question: ‘can it be built in a way that’s better for the land and the people?’”

Below: The new PDX terminal will be primarily constructed from mass timber sourced from within 300 miles of the airport, part of the airport’s sustainability-focused approach to construction. (photo credit: Courtesy of Port of Portland)

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AX NEWS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024