Making PDX PDX-ier

If you’ve flown out of Concourse B, or seen the wooden curves of a new roof appear atop the main terminal, you’ve already caught a glimpse of the new Portland International Airport taking shape.

Behind this $2 billion investment is a mission to make PDX even more, well, PDX. That means creating healthy spaces optimized for sustainability, earthquake resilience, and your wellbeing. Along the way, we’re opening up more opportunities for local businesses and communities throughout our region.

What will it look like in 2025 when the PDX Next project is finished? Scroll on to get a sneak peek at the changes we’ve already made — and what’s to come.

New Main Terminal
New designs inspired by places we love

In 2025, when future-you steps into the airport, you’ll see the airport’s core — the ticketing and lobby areas — nearly double in size. This gives us space to bring more Pacific Northwest character to the heart of PDX, even as we make the airport more energy efficient. The local architects behind the new main terminal have drawn inspiration from the lush landscapes of our region. The new main terminal may feel like a walk through the forest, with an iconic wood-lattice ceiling spanning over a bright space full of leafy foliage and real, live trees. We’re keeping the space open and flexible, too, so we meet the needs of our region for decades to come.

Completion:

2025

Architects:

ZGF

Contractor:

Hoffman Skanska JV

New Local Shops:

20, including Loyal Legion, Grassa and Paper Epiphanies

Sunbreaks:

49, in the form of ceiling skylights

Local forests supplying Doug fir for the ceiling:

11

Shoe-selfie stations:

10 (with the original carpet design!)

Project complete
Flexible Transportation
Getting you in and out of PDX faster

We’re rolling out a series of improvements to make your commute even easier and speedier. Do you zip in on the MAX or cycle to PDX? We’re making space for light-rail and bike-path enhancements. Hailing a ride on your phone? In 2023, a new dedicated pickup area will streamline the entire experience. In 2021, we brought all car rentals on-site and opened a flexible transit hub with 2,225 close-in parking spots. (Bonus: 24 new EV charging stations in short-term parking and 11 in long-term parking.) This modern basecamp for ground transportation means you’ll be on the road in no time.

Project complete
Concourse B
Upgrading to bigger and brighter

Built from the ground up in 2021, Concourse B opens up more possibilities for travelers, including six new gates for Alaska Airlines. To make room, we said goodbye to the dim, crowded Concourse A — demolishing this aging wing of the airport in favor of a concourse designed for 21st-century aviation. Architects have embraced the romance of flying with floor-to-ceiling windows, where kids can watch as planes taxi to the runway and climb skyward. Everything in the interior space is about putting you in a good mood, from leafy foliage to common areas where you can de-stress. It’s all based on research that proves what Oregonians already know: Access to nature makes us happier and healthier.

Project complete
Concourse E
A new gateway to PDX

In the works for more than four years, the freshly expanded Concourse E opened in July 2020, with sweeping glass walls framing views of Mt. Hood and the Columbia River. This spacious, light-filled home for Southwest Airlines makes room for clusters of new restaurants and shops as well as imaginative work by contemporary artist Jacob Hashimoto. It’s all thanks to the creativity and hustle of the 2,000 builders, makers and architects who brought the vision to life.

Timeline

The entire project, at a glance

2019

Farewell to all that

Concourse A

Sometimes you have to say goodbye to the old in order to welcome the new. In 2019, we tore down Concourse A in order to build Concourse B. Frank talk: We haven’t missed it.

Saying goodbye to A

PNW-Inspired Designs Revealed

2020 PDX Next rendering

In 2020, our team of local architects unveiled new designs for the airport’s main terminal. It’s spacious, flexible, and green, with plenty of Pacific Northwest character.

Look into the future

Builders tackle some big challenges

Spring 2021 PDX Next roof animation

Hard hats on and sleeves rolled: In April 2021, we closed the Clocktower Plaza for good so that our crew of 1,250 pros could get to work bringing the new main terminal to life.

See how we’re building it

New Rental Car Center

Fall 2021 Flexible transit hub, beep beep!

PDX's new Rental Car Center helps you get in and out of PDX faster without taking a shuttle from the terminal. On the floors above, we've added 2,200 more parking spaces.

Less traffic, more free time

Flexible transit hub—beep beep!

Fall 2021 Flexible transit hub, beep beep!

To help you get in and out of PDX faster, we opened a new basecamp for car rentals and parking, complete with more close-in spots and flexibility for future modes of transit.

Less traffic, more free time

Say hello to a brand-new Concourse B

Fall 2021 Start with a small service

The bigger, daylight-filled Concourse B replaces Concourse A, adding more Oregon flavor in the form of new art, Good Coffee drinks, and Screen Door fried chicken.

See how we’re building it

More flexible transit options

Fall 2023

Rideshare riders, rejoice: You’ll find your Lyft or Uber driver in the new dedicated pickup center. And if you work at PDX, new employee shuttles will make your commute even easier.

Welcome to your new main terminal

Spring 2024 spring 2024

Walk into the spacious and green new main terminal, where you’ll find it easy to get to your gate thanks to expanded security checkpoints, an intuitive layout, and more local places to eat and shop.

The new main terminal is complete

2025 spring 2025

Once we’ve finished the construction on the north and south ends of the main terminal, we’re making the last temporary walls and detours go away—for good—and bringing in nine more restaurants and shops.