Portland International Airport (PDX) recently celebrated the completion of its $2.15-billion main terminal reconstruction project. The 11-year project is the largest public infrastructure project in Oregon history and the last milestone of the airport’s PDX Next program. Work on the main terminal has doubled the facility’s capacity and features new exit lanes; upgraded flooring; new restrooms; 27 new concessions, including local brands like Powell’s Books, Columbia Sportswear and Portland Gear; permanent and rotating art installations; and lovingly restored bits of the airport’s beloved 1980s teal carpet.
Terminal work prioritized both local businesses and local building materials, with more than $274 million awarded to over 140 small businesses throughout the project, and a nine-acre roof built entirely from wood sourced within 300 miles of the airport thanks to collaboration with architects, sustainable forestry pros, multigenerational foresters, regional Tribes and local mills. The airport’s ground-source heat pump will heat and cool the airport by late 2026 and cut the facility’s fossil fuel use by 95%, while the timber roof sequesters carbon and reduces electrical usage through its abundant skylights.
“From the beginning, our North Star was a new PDX that reflects our values and the people and places that make this region special,” said Curtis Robinhold, executive director of the Port of Portland. “The final result is a world-class airport unlike any other, shaped by local hands, local ideas, and local pride. It’s a space that belongs to all of us, and a process that we can all learn from.”
