Designed to evoke the feeling of a walk in the forest, the new main terminal at Portland International Airport (PDX) transcends functionality and aspires to create a familiar local feeling reminiscent of the natural beauty and awe of Oregon’s landscape. The undulating 9-acre mass timber hybrid roof celebrates the history and future of Oregon’s forest product industry with innovative wood solutions that are sustainably and locally sourced from landowners and mills within the Cascadia region. Biophilic design principles were applied throughout with abundant daylighting, a robust landscape, and natural materials. Portland’s urban planning of small walkable city blocks and vibrant neighborhood scale inspired the design of the terminal as a flexible series of rooms that cultivate a calming atmosphere for both passengers and employees. A unique modular and seismic resilient roof prefabricated and strategically launched over the existing infrastructure allowed the new terminal to remain fully operational during construction.
