2024 Summer Issue of Urban Land - 72

Expanding
the Airport
and Its
Purpose
Rebuilding PDX for
regional resilience
SHARRON VAN DER MEULEN
AND GENE SANDOVAL
Frequently cited as one of America's
best airports, Portland International Airport
(PDX) will unveil its ZGF-designed,
expanded main terminal in August, with
completion set for 2025. Instead of building
an entirely new airport, much of PDX's
existing infrastructure was reused. The
expansion features a mass timber roof
canopy and structure built from wood
sourced within a 300-mile (482,803
meter) radius of the terminal-paying
homage to the local environment and
highlighting the importance of sustainable
materials and practices. ZGF's commitment
to sourcing timber from specific
forests honors the contributions of the
landowners to the region's ecosystem-
not only representing Portland and the
Pacific Northwest, but also reinforcing the
meaningful connection between a building
like PDX and the people it serves. Managing
Partner Sharron van der Meulen and
Partner Gene Sandoval of ZGF share their
perspective on these powerful connections,
and the impact they can have on a
region's long-term resilience.
In 2024, as air travel demand climbs
back to pre-pandemic levels, airports that
are once again bustling have an opportunity
to reflect on the unique role they play
in serving tens of thousands of people a
day-and not just passengers, but also the
people who live and work in the communities
near the airport.
Airports are transit hubs. They're shopping
malls. They're cargo centers. They're
offices. And yet, at their core, airports are
important civic buildings that represent
the place people are traveling to and
from. This role is a powerful one to play.
Whether greeting visitors, welcoming residents
home, or serving as the penultimate
stop on a vacation or business trip, airports
leave lasting impressions.
Is that impression positive? Is the
airport boosting the region's reputation,
bolstering its social, environmental,
and financial strength, and contributing
to its growth potential? With America's
many aging airports facing $128 billion
in new infrastructure needs-for terminal
upgrades to improve passenger experience,
accessibility, and sustainability, as
Airports Council International reports-
these questions loom. Now is the time
for cities and airport operators to come
together and make changes.
Change can be incremental, even small,
and still have a positive impact, as long
as the focus remains on the place and
the people the airport serves. Here are six
considerations:
Serve the People
In Portland, Oregon, where we live and
work, Portland International Airport (PDX)
serves nearly 20 million passengers each
year. The newly expanded main terminal-opening
August 2024-enables PDX
to increase capacity over the next two
decades to accommodate 35 million passengers
annually.
It takes 10,000 employees to serve
this many passengers, and to do it well.
Ensuring that the daily experience of both
passengers and employees will be positive
was a primary design driver for the
One of America's most beloved airports, Portland International Airport (PDX) will unveil its ZGF-designed terminal in August.
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2024 Summer Issue of Urban Land

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of 2024 Summer Issue of Urban Land