In nowhere but in Oregon could the remarkable renovation of Portland's PDX airport have occurred.
An undulating wave of 58,000,000 - yes, million - board feet of locally sourced (within one day's drive, a 300-mile radius) and ecologically managed Douglas Fir that soothes the senses, slows the body and opens the heart.
Ryan Temple, Sustainable Northwest Wood founder, states it precisely: "When you look up at the roof, you're going to be blown away by the beauty of it."
The wood was sourced from family owned forests and Native American lands in rural Oregon and Washington.
For six years, the Port of Portland and ZGF Architects collaborated with sustainable forestry experts, area tribes and mills to acquire and mill wood from healthy forests while feeding our local economy.
Native American tribes - Yakama Nation, Coquille Indian Tribe, Skokomish Indian Tribe and the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe - taught the partners how to do forestry in ways that support sustainability.
The stories of those who cared for and oversaw the healthy growth of the project's wood can be documented beginning to end. Learn the exact stories, in their own words, of all tribal partners here.
Can you imagine the vision of the architects daring to replicate the beauty of the Pacific Northwest? Or the engineers who designed a modular approach for installing the roof in 18 pieces? Or the craftspeople who milled the wood into perfect puzzle pieces?
Did you know that each modular piece was installed in the middle of the night?
"Achieving the level of precision to safely install the roof in 18 pieces - each weighing more than 600,000 pounds and the size of a football field - was remarkable." Brad Harrison, senior manager of engineering and construction, Port of Portland
Huge skylights strategically placed shed natural light on 70+ trees and dozens of species of plants.
Each of the retail shops and restaurants - and the regionally-inspired art - is a local company. New public art by Yoonhee Choi. Beloved Oregon legacy companies, like Pendleton Woolen Mills. Upstart, Loyal Legion Brewery. Blue Star Donuts, produced on-site. Grassa's fresh pasta.
The entire project would be incomplete were not mention made of Oregon's beloved old-school carpet. Crazy geometric shapes on a teal background that's origin actually reflects "the intersection of the north and south runways seen by air traffic controllers at night."
It must be said that Portlanders are very tied to this carpet so eliminating it would have been unthinkable.
Paul and I enjoyed Hefeweizen on the mezzanine while absorbing the movement of travelers, casual sitters hanging out on one-story Doug Fir bleachers, and waves of movement of rolling, IMAX-sized videos of beaches, water and animals at each end of the main terminal.
PDX was already acclaimed as Travel & Leisure Magazine's Top Airport in America.
This extraordinary renovation places it in its own category of excellence. And… the project isn't yet complete. Final renovations are due in 2026.
May the safe travel force be with you, and may you have the great good fortune to take refuge in the Portland International Airport.
Be sure to look up.
Wow, that’s amazing. Also: Finally!! 😄
Passed through yesterday for the first time. Pretty incredible. Didn't get to see everything so thanks for this post.