Behind the scenes
Peek behind the curtains to meet the cool and creative people defining the future of travel at PDX.
Mood Board: The Regional Love Behind New PDX Designs
Published November 18, 2020
Chances are you’ve probably seen the new airport designs, which we recently unveiled to mark the 80th anniversary of the Portland International Airport.
And you’ve probably heard us mention how we’re taking inspiration from the Pacific Northwest, something you see hints of in the main terminal renderings.
But even the best rendering can’t quite capture the airport’s “PDXiness.” Yes, that’s a cheesy word we made up to describe the sense of pride and local character that we think feels true to PDX.
To show you that, we’re better off sharing our mood board. So we grabbed a few of our favorite visual references to give you a more intimate glimpse into the people, places and passions inspiring what’s next at PDX.
What’s more #PNW than our forests? New airport designs reflect the natural heritage of the Pacific Northwest and our long tradition of craftsmanship. You’ll see it especially in the main terminal’s iconic wooden roof, which will be built with timber sourced sustainably from throughout the region.
(Photo Credit: Thomas Shahan)
You’ve probably noticed us using this photo in a few different places ... like here, also here and on temporary construction walls in PDX. (We really like it, OK?) That’s because the new main terminal’s spaces draw on the fresh feeling of walking through our region’s many parks. “The inspiration we really looked to in the beginning was of the place, the natural environment, the unique regions that we live in,” says Sharron van der Meulen, managing partner in the Portland office of ZGF.
Introducing natural elements into our interior spaces can make us feel happier and more at ease — that’s one of the reasons you’ll see subtle nods to our natural environment pop up throughout the new PDX designs.
It’s the people of Portland who make our neighborhoods sing. That’s true at PDX, too, where artists and musicians will keep bringing the heart and soul for years to come. “People always come up and tell me they’ve had a really stressful time, heard my music and that it really calmed them down,” says singer-songwriter Jordan Richard, one of the dozen-plus talented musicians who volunteer at the airport. “PDX has that mellow, comfortable Portland feeling — that’s why I like it.”
When we’re hard at work designing and building PDX Next projects, we tend to drink our fair share of coffee. What goes better with coffee than doughnuts? Exactly.
New spaces at PDX mean more opportunities for collaborations with the region’s art scene. “Through my interactions at PDX, I’ve come to understand the openness and eagerness of the staff to collaborate with an array of communities,” says Portland-based artist Renee Zangara. “In particular, the airport’s willingness to engage with the regional art community offers travelers a glimpse into the Northwest’s arts and culture scene.”
Even when we’ve opened up the more spacious and flexible main terminal, you’ll get a familiar PDX feeling. “I think that’s what’s going to keep this airport unique,” says Gene Sandoval, partner at ZGF. “There will always be a series of spaces that feel intimate — what we perceive to be the scale of Portland, which is so close to our hearts.”
The flexible interior spaces were designed with the future of travel in mind — and to give you plenty of comfortable spots to recharge before your next flight.
Two permanent installations from acclaimed contemporary artist Jacob Hashimoto hang like clouds above the concourse’s common areas.
Shops and restaurants are clustered together like city blocks, with a pedestrian-friendly scale and lots of room to spread out.
Artist Jacob Hashimoto’s canopy of kite-like discs reflects the atmosphere of the Pacific Northwest, with locally inspired graphics incorporated throughout.
Sky-high windows fill the interior with daylight while maximizing the concourse extension’s energy efficiency.
At the east end of the concourse, a wall of windows opens up this epic view of Mt. Hood, where you’ll definitely want to pose for a photo before takeoff.
The Concourse E extension project is the dedicated home for Southwest Airlines at PDX, with six new gates.
Remember the view of Mt. Hood on Concourse E? It’s coming back, brighter than ever.
Tillamook’s menu includes the best of the classics with fried cheese curds and a signature grilled cheese.
Calliope takes its name from one of Oregon’s native hummingbirds and showcases creative and playful keepsakes.
Grab your favorite book, magazine or newspaper at Your Northwest Travel Mart.
Remember the feeling of walking through an Oregon forest for the first time?
That feeling inspired the design of the new Concourse B.
An early movement flow study for the new Concourse B.
The new Concourse B has great exposure to southern light.
Interior rendering for the new Concourse B.
The new Concourse B has Pacific Northwest touches like warm wood panels and indoor greenery.
Exterior rendering of the new Concourse B.
The six new ground loading gates for Alaska Airlines are bigger and brighter.
Our new rental car center opens in 2021.
Movable plants and furniture make the space flexible.
When the new rental car center opens in 2021, you won’t need a shuttle to pick up your car.
Interior acoustical materials help reduce noise.
The new facility also provides more long-term parking, new office spaces, and a new and relocated parking toll plaza building.
A new exit plaza opened in November 2019.
Every design decision we make is about keeping the heart and soul of PDX intact. You’ll see homages to all the things you love about our city and region in the new airport designs.
The new terminal’s wooden roof (as seen in this close-up rendering, right) might remind you of daylight filtering through forest canopies.
You’ll notice subtle nods to Pacific Northwest elements throughout the new space. The ripples and currents of our pristine rivers, for example, are inspiring the undulating flow of the wooden roof, as depicted in this architectural model (right).
We’re filling the new main terminal with a lot of Portland love — both in terms of regionally sourced materials and, well, doughnuts. (C’mon, what would PDX be without doughnuts?)
You’ll see a scene something like this when you enter the more spacious ticket lobby at PDX. This early architectural rendering previews the vision for the iconic wooden roof — inspired by Pacific Northwest nature, craft and our partly sunny skies.
Natural light, living trees and native Oregon foliage might give you the feeling of walking through a park, as this early architectural rendering shows.
Expanding the heart of the airport creates more spaces for the local shops and restaurants you love. Architects are thoughtfully planning these public spaces to resemble the human-friendly scale of your favorite Portland neighborhoods.