Portland, Oregon, USA
ZGF have unveiled the design plans for Portland International Airport’s new main terminal, which is estimated to cost $1.5 billion.
The new main terminal will live inside of a spacious structure that has room for the airport to grow according to new tech additions and a predicted increase in travelers in the coming years.
The new design has a focus on “health, wellbeing, and safety”, which is in part done by including aspects of nature into the earthquake-proofed terminal. This emphasis on nature can be seen throughout several aspects of the planned terminal, from its wooden roofing to the inclusion of plants.
The wood that will be used for the roof will be locally and sustainably sourced to bring more of the outside into the plant-lined terminal, according to the architects.
“The roof design was inspired by the forests of the Pacific Northwest and the feeling you get while walking through the woods, the experience of light filtering through the trees, and the protection of the tree canopy,” said ZGF partner and lead interior designer Sharron van der Meulen.
“The inspiration we really looked to in the beginning was of the place, the natural environment, the really unique regions that we live in.”
Designs for the new main terminal take inspiration from biophilia and the scale of Portland’s downtown blocks, from foliage to natural materials and finishes.
The new design includes space for groups of stores and cafes to make the airport feel more like a street and sidewalk-lined Portland neighborhood.
There will also be room for more public art inside of the terminal.
“We’re taking the airport that has served the region well for the past 80 years and updating and upgrading it. While the space will look and feel different, we are keeping the heart and soul of the airport that Portlanders know and love—easy to navigate; bright, open spaces; and local shops and restaurants—it will still feel like home,” said Vince Granato, chief projects officer with the Port of Portland.
When the main terminal is complete, the Portland International Airport will be another 175,000 square feet larger but will use half of the energy per square foot compared to now.
The roof installation is set to be in place in 2022 and entire project is expected to be completed during the spring of 2025.
Architects: ZGF Architects
Client: Port of Portland
