Portland International Airport Main Terminal Expansion

Designed to feel like a walk in the forest, Portland International Airport's (PDX) new main terminal creates a welcoming local atmosphere that highlights Oregon's natural beauty and doubles passenger capacity for the projected 35 million passengers traveling annually by 2045.

The PDX terminal expansion began as the Port of Portland’s program to accommodate substantial passenger growth, seismic resiliency, reduce embodied and operational carbon, increase economic equity, and create a Pacific Northwest-inspired architecture that captures the Oregonian spirit. PDX had a clear mission and approached the project with a distinct vision: keep the terminal operational during construction, lead in sustainability, create flexible and adaptable solutions for future-proofing airport’s ever-evolving operations, enhance the passenger experience, provide clarity of wayfinding—and most importantly, maintain the local vibe that connects PDX with the community. A unique roof structure prefabricated on site with all systems integrated into modular cassettes was transported across the airfield and strategically launched over the existing infrastructure after hours, allowing the terminal to remain fully operational throughout construction. The roof, a hybrid structure spanning 9 acres and constructed from steel girders, curved glulam beams, mass plywood roof deck, and a lattice ceiling, celebrates Oregon’s forest industry. It uses wood sustainably sourced from local landowners and mills. The design incorporates biophilia, daylight, natural materials, and robust landscaping comprised of 70 trees and 5,000 smaller plants. It creates a calming atmosphere whose layout is inspired by urban planning and Portland’s small, treelined, walkable city blocks. Driven by Oregon’s history of forest product innovation, the project team visited regional forests to learn about sustainable forestry practices and craft a forest-to-frame wood sourcing strategy by partnering with landowners, small family forests, community forests, tribal nations and mills within a 300-mile radius of the airport. This effort supported rural communities that practice responsible forest stewardship, including FSC-certified wood and eco-friendly practices that exceed local regulations. One million board feet of wood can be traced back to its forest of origin, reinforcing the connection between the airport and its surrounding community and regional environment. The terminal’s design supports flexible systems that can adapt to future technology and processes. To prevent roadblocks to future renovations, 34 tapered locally fabricated Y-columns, set on a 100’ x 150’ structural grid, create unobstructed, column-free floor plates. This is ideal for security checkpoints and ticketing islands and allows flexibility to adapt check-in, security, passenger flow, and retail processes as needed. Since PDX is in the Cascadia subduction zone, the terminal is engineered to handle a magnitude-9 earthquake. The roof connects to the Y-columns via seismic isolating discs and provides the armature to hang the curtainwall. PDX, a destination for the local community, also has an industry-leading local brand retail program where 30% of concessions are located pre-security. Public gathering areas overlook the airfield, connecting individuals to aviation and showcasing additional ways an airport can successfully serve the region. The PDX experience includes a new light rail station at the terminal for the MAX Red Line with service to downtown.