Between now and 2025, we’re working on a series of upgrades that’ll make the airport more open, flexible and energy efficient. And we’re bringing even more Pacific Northwest character to the heart of PDX.
Quick update: This article was written in 2021. The new PDX is here! Want to meet it?
If you’ve visited PDX recently, you might have noticed a few changes — like the fact we’ve removed the ceiling pre-security. Don’t worry: This “industrial chic” aesthetic is only temporary, as we gear up to build a new roof over the airport. And that’s only part of what we have in the works.
These changes might leave you with some questions. So we’ve put together this explainer to guide you through the milestones of the key PDX Next projects — including the new main terminal, Concourse B and flexible transportation upgrades.
New Main Terminal: Talk about a challenge
The big challenge: How do you build a new roof over a major airport that’s always in motion? It takes lots of prep work. We’ve been laying the groundwork for the construction of the new main terminal since March 2020. While you may have noticed the concourse connector closed and the south security checkpoint moved, many of the other changes haven’t been as visible to travelers. Backstage, our all-star team of builders have focused on logistical challenges like moving all of the underground pipes and cables. They’ve successfully set the scene for the many steps that follow.
Once the Clocktower Plaza closes in April 2021, we begin the big work of expanding the airport’s main terminal 150 feet west. The highlighted area in the left image spotlights where this work will take place. The rendering to the right shows the new main terminal once it’s complete.
Phase 1: Columns, cables and connectors (2021)
What you’ll notice most: The Clocktower Plaza, aka the shops and restaurants pre-security, closes for good in April 2021. (You’ll still find coffee, snacks and shops after security checkpoints.)
Why it’ll be worth it: We’re creating brighter, more open spaces and making room for more local shops and restaurants.
You probably have not noticed we’ve rerouted the utilities beneath the airport. But you will see more obvious signs of progress come spring 2021, with the closure of the beloved Clocktower Plaza in April. (Don’t worry: We’re doing all this work to open up even more spots for local shopkeepers, chefs, baristas and bartenders.)
One of the key steps happening in 2021 is installing giant Y-shaped columns, which will soon support the new roof. After the columns are in place, even bigger work begins: expanding the main terminal 150 feet west. To keep your experience as smooth as possible, we’ll build bypasses around the construction site in the airport’s core. We’ll be sustainably upcycling components from the former concourse connector to build these new hallways. The bypasses will be in place for several years to help travelers easily get to their gates while the construction continues behind insulated walls.
In January 2021, we closed what might've been your favorite shortcut at PDX: the concourse connector between the airport's south and north wings. We're upcycling pieces from the concourse connector to build bypasses so passengers can easily avoid the construction happening in the main terminal.
Phase 2: Building a brand-new roof (2022)
What you’ll notice most: A different flow to get to your gate — you’ll take a short detour around the construction in the main terminal (happening behind the ticket counters).
Why it’ll be worth it: In short, more #PNW views and character. Local architects and sustainability experts, led by ZGF Portland, are sourcing sustainable timber from regional forests for the new resilient roof.
By now, you’ve probably seen the new airport designs. In the architects’ renderings, the most striking feature is undeniably the lattice wooden ceiling. While the design itself is stunning, the way it’s being built is its own kind of love letter to the Pacific Northwest.
The story of the roof begins in local forests, where we’re taking care to sustainably source the timber. It’s in honor of the stewards of the land and our region’s crafty heritage. Next, construction pros with Hoffman Skanska build the structure itself in pieces — assembling 20 massive “roof modules” at an alternate location away from the airport. Once they’re complete, getting these building blocks to PDX won’t be an easy task. Each module will be painstakingly transported across the airfield, then hoisted up and slid into place, almost like they’re massive cassette tapes. It’ll take the better part of a year to complete phase two.
This will be the biggest PDX puzzle yet — building the new roof over the busy airport. This animation visualizes a few of the most challenging steps from installing the massive Y-shaped columns to assembling the wooden roof piece by piece.
Phase 3: Bringing the PDX character (2023-2025)
What you’ll notice most: Yes, construction is nearly finished by this point. Bypasses will soon be removed and the new terminal will open to the public.
Why it’ll be worth it: We’ll finally celebrate the big PDX milestone with thousands of local builders, artists and architects who made the vision real.
Once the new roof spans across the heart of the airport, our attention turns to filling the indoor spaces with more PDX character. Kicking off in fall 2022, we’ll spend a year building out a new ticket lobby, shops and relaxing common areas. This is where we’ll show off our love for Portland’s parks by bringing plenty of leafy foliage and real-life trees indoors.
A lot of the interior work will be finished by fall 2023, though we’ll dance through a few more steps before we wrap up — building new public lounges and putting the finishing touches on the airport’s entryways. Closing and removing the temporary bypasses will be the last hurdle before the project completes in 2025.
Once the new main terminal opens in 2025, you’ll see the airport filled with more of what you love about the Pacific Northwest: leafy green spaces, trees, and local restaurants and shops.
Concourse B: Upgrading to bigger and brighter (2021)
What you’ll notice most: A new permanent home for Alaska Airlines at PDX.
Why it’ll be worth it: You’ll have more comfy spaces and inspiring views to enjoy before your flight. Plus, you can experience immersive new work from artist RYAN! Feddersen.
You might remember back in 2019 when we said goodbye forever to Concourse A. Why did we demolish A? To make way for a bigger and brighter Concourse B, which construction teams are hustling to finalize throughout the first half of 2021 in preparation for its grand opening later this year. It’ll be the new PDX basecamp for Alaska Airlines.
Installing the tall window walls — which give you fresh views of airplanes landing and taking off — is B’s most visible construction milestone. But nailing the interior details is just as important. From the wooden panels to the lush greenery, local builders and craftspeople are making one final leap to finish Concourse B in true Pacific Northwest style.
We’re currently hustling to finish the brand-new Concourse B. The image on the left shows our work in progress. To the right, you get a preview of what the concourse will look like when it’s finished this summer.
Flexible transportation: Easier and speedier (2021-2023)
What you’ll notice most: Less congestion on Airport Way and more ADA-accessible parking spaces.
Why it’ll be worth it: You won’t have to take a shuttle to pick up your rental car. And finding your rideshare driver will be a breeze.
Ground transportation upgrades will soon make it easier to get in and out of PDX. While it includes a wide range of complex infrastructure improvements, this project is simply about streamlining your commute, no matter how you choose to ride.
Fall 2021 marks the completion of the airport’s new ground transportation hub. And when it formally opens in November, it’ll make your airport experience speedier and less stressful. The new complex brings all rental cars on-site (no more shuttles!), opens 2,225 close-in parking spaces (including 30 ADA spots) and adds nearly three dozen new electric vehicle charging stations.
The modern basecamp for ground transportation is one key part of a larger undertaking, with additional enhancements along the way. Opening in 2023, a new rideshare pick-up center will ease congestion on the roadway. A second light-rail track for MAX trains (complete in 2024) and improvements to cycling paths will make transit riders and cyclists happier, too.
Our new basecamp for ground transportation involves a lot of moving pieces. On the left, you see teams working on the new rental car center and office complex. The rendering to the right shows what it’ll look like when it’s finished.
Curious how construction might affect you?
Whenever you’re ready to travel again, you can check out the construction update hub on FlyPDX.com. You’ll find the latest information and frequently asked questions about how these projects might affect your trip. You can also send us a message here: hello@pdxnext.com. We’re always happy to help.
Tom Strong - Chief Executive Officer, Skokomish Indian Tribe, Skokomish Washington
"We're foresters in that we're stewards," says Tom Strong, Chief Executive Officer of the Skokomish Indian Tribe, which manages 2,000 acres of Washington forests for its 800 tribal members. "We're not cutting and planting, seeking to develop our lands into a commodity. Instead, we're doing it to restore the forest."
Over the past 100 years, the two dams on the North Fork Skokomish River have had a major impact on the entire ecosystem of Skokomish land. "We want to restore the entire Hood Canal watershed," Tom says. The forests are just one part.
Selling wood from Douglas fir trees the tribe selectively thinned will help fund this restoration. "We don't have an endless amount of money," Tom says. "But we would like to think we've got an endless amount of time."
Ben Hayes - Co-owner, Hyla Woods, Cherry Grove, Oregon
Ben Hayes is a sixth-generation forester who manages Hyla Woods, outside Cherry Grove, Oregon, with his father, Peter. He is also a sustainable-forestry consultant. At Hyla Woods, the Hayes experiment with selective thinning and patch cutting, instead of clear-cutting, to foster diversity of tree species, ages, and sizes.
"When you look 100 years out, having greater complexity in terms of species and the structure of the forest, you can increase the forest's resilience in the face of extreme weather and drought," he says.
"We're working toward a model of forestry that you could practice for the perpetual future,” Ben says. “It's a model that lifts up both rural and urban communities and the ecosystems we rely on."
Richard and Ann Hanschu - Owners, Doneen, Forest Grove, Oregon
Ann Hanschu's father first bought land outside Forest Grove, Oregon, in 1956. Ann grew up trailing her father around the forest, learning from him. The Hanschus now have three children, four grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
Richard says, "We're planting trees that our grandchildren will see the profits from — not even our children. It's long-range thinking."
"A lot of the timber is older,” Ann adds. “We're laddering it with trees of different age groups — some 30-40 years old, some 10-20 years old — so the land can continue to produce a sustainable amount of wood."
Herman Flamenco - Central Cascades Conservation Forester, The Nature Conservancy, Cle Elum, Washington
"We know historically that the stands we're working on were overstocked," says Herman Flamenco, Central Cascades conservation forester for the Nature Conservancy, of the 50,000 acres outside Cle Elum, Washington, the organization manages. Thinning the trees welcomes in light and biodiversity.
Some loggers in the region worry that this low-impact approach to forestry yields less lumber, and less profit, than clear-cutting. One local outfit took on this labor-intensive challenge, selectively harvesting Doug fir trees from steep slopes.
"Western Washington is wetter. In our dry climate, there's less moisture and increased fire risk," Herman says. "As we look at climate change, it's just going to get dryer. We want to make sure we can keep our forests around."
In the 1950s, back when people wore fancy hats to the airport, PDX’s main terminal had brown terrazzo floors.
By the 1970s, blue carpet sporting the old Port of Portland logo replaced the terrazzo. The airport was so concerned about keeping the carpet clean that we banned gum-chewing indoors.
In the 1980s, PDX replaced the ski-chalet paneling in the Clocktower Plaza with high ceilings and skylights, but kept the blue carpet.
SRG Partnership, a Portland-based architecture firm, designed the pattern for the now-iconic carpet on the layout of the airport runways.
The Clocktower Plaza, post-1988, with the iconic carpet.
The Clocktower Plaza (before its demolition in 2021-22) with the new carpet.
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.
PDX’s swanky new bar, Juliett, honors women in aviation with mid-20th-century style, top-class cocktails, and local wines and beers.
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.
Concourse B's 38-foot-high ceilings and 6,900 square feet of windows don't just let light in. They let you watch the airport in action. "I think this airport gave us a chance to celebrate the romance of flight," says Gene Sandoval of ZGF, the architecture firm that designed the new concourse.
ZGF Architects was inspired to bring the Pacific Northwest’s natural world indoors. You can contemplate the plants hanging from the ceiling and the Oregon white-oak walls as you relax in B’s comfy new seats. (Bonus: More power adapters!)
RYAN! Feddersen’s art installation, which fills the concourse, is made up of three interconnected pieces. The “Sentinel” landscapes and abstract “Habitat Tiles” are pictured here.
RYAN! is an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. She draws inspiration from the region’s traditions and landscape for these pieces, which include the gently rolling “Cloud Walk” overhead.
Nicole and David Mouton, in partnership with HMSHost, opened an outpost of Portland’s beloved Screen Door Restaurant on Concourse B. Find Screen Door’s legendary fried chicken and waffles here from breakfast until dinnertime.
Sam and Nick Purvis, the brothers behind Good Coffee, source fresh coffee beans and teas from all over the world. Pick up a pastry or a bag of beans, too!
Our new rental car center opened in November 2021.
All rental car brands are now on-site at PDX – no more shuttles to pick up your car.
Perez Westbrooks' colorful digital mural celebrates Northwest flora.
Ben Butler's swirling wood sculpture is made from reclaimed Douglas fir.
The new facility also adds 30 ADA parking spots, more than 30 electric vehicle charging stations, and 2,200 long-term parking spaces to the airport.
Adding more lanes to our new, relocated exit toll plaza helps you leave PDX more quickly.
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.
You’ll notice subtle nods to the Pacific Northwest landscape throughout the space. Natural light, living trees, and native Oregon foliage may give you the feeling of walking through a park.
The new terminal’s wooden ceiling, made from sustainably grown, local Doug fir, might remind you of daylight filtering through forest canopies.
This will be your new view when entering the spacious ticket lobby at PDX. The nine-acre wood roof is so distinctive you’ll be able to spot it from the air.
The ripples and currents of pristine Northwest rivers inspired the new terminal’s curvy profile.
Expanding the heart of PDX creates more space for our beloved local shops and restaurants — not to mention local humans (and visitors, too).