Trading my SSH terminal for the newly remodeled PDX terminal.
This is our first time through. It is simply beautiful.
Key Facts and Features
Mass Timber Roof: The centerpiece is a 400,000-square-foot roof made of 18 million pounds of locally sourced timber, built off-site and lifted into place.
Design & Sustainability: Designed to evoke a “walk in the forest,” the terminal features 49 skylights to maximize natural light and incorporates over 30 trees and 5,000 plants, targeting LEED Gold certification.
Improved Flow: The project doubled the size of the ticketing and lobby area, with four new, open-concept “island” check-in counters and a faster, more efficient TSA security checkpoint.
Local Focus: The redesign emphasizes Portland’s culture with local restaurants, shops, and the return of the iconic PDX carpet in select areas.
Construction Method: To avoid shutting down the airport, the new roof was built over the old terminal, which was then dismantled beneath it.
Timeline: The first major phase opened in August 2024, with final completion scheduled for late 2025.
Project Goals
Seismic Upgrades: The new structure is designed for resilience, featuring advanced, flexible engineering to withstand major earthquakes.
Capacity Expansion: The remodel ensures the airport can handle up to 35 million passengers annually by 2045.
Regional Collaboration: 30,000+ workers and roughly 150 small businesses contributed to the construction.
Project Funding: The project is primarily funded by airlines and airport tenants, not local taxes.
Leave a Reply