2024 Summer Issue of Urban Land - 73

team at ZGF. While doubling the terminal's
capacity, we sought to maintain
the small and intimate scale of PDX that
people have always enjoyed, with numerous
places to rest, recharge, and refuel.
This scale is reflective of Portland's
pedestrian-friendly, tree-lined streets, and
the approachability of the city's neighborhoods.
Employees also gain dedicated
spaces to take breaks, intentionally
located in places they can get to quickly
and easily, even in such a large facility.
We achieved this aspect by creating
user profiles or personas for all of the
people within PDX and mapped out their
specific needs, their journeys, and their
typical stress points along the way-and
then designed to reduce that stress as
much as we could.
We also thought about spaces where
people might intersect, whether they're
travelers, employees, or other community
members. PDX has long been beloved
for its pre-security retail and dining
options. In the expansion, we again prioritized
these amenity spaces, including
the creation of a pre-security space with
stadium-like seating that can be used for
musical performances and other gatherings,
or simply for sitting and relaxing in
a pleasant setting. Additional community
lounges are similarly positioned to be
visible and accessible to all, offering an
elevated experience for everyone, with
nice seating and prime views, and creating
an environment where all can commingle
and feel comfortable.
Deliver a Positive Experience
Maximizing comfort and ease for passengers
and employees contributes greatly
to minimizing their stress. Throughout
our design process, we were motivated
to uncover details that can be inspiring,
delightful, even magical, so that people
can truly relax and enjoy the airport
experience.
Increasing visibility throughout the
airport, with broad views of the airfield,
helps to reduce the uncertainty of what
lies ahead on the path from arrival to airplane,
but it also helps to restore some
of the romance of air travel. Biophilic
design in the form of a large interior
landscape and abundant natural light
Biophilic design, in the form of a large interior landscapes and abundant natural
light, provides connections to nature that not only reflect the Pacific Northwest
region but also reduces stress.
provides connections to nature that not
only reflect the Pacific Northwest region
but also reduces stress. Well-placed art
installations and local music contribute
to the airport's calm oasis and offer different
types of experiences for the wide
variety of people using the airport.
Even the amenities that might be
considered basic can have a big impact.
Restrooms, for example, are so fundamental
to the airport experience-or,
arguably, to the experience of any public
building-that, in many ways, they're
more important to get right than are
other airport components. At PDX, we
took an equitable approach to comfort
and privacy by designing large banks
of non-gendered, single-stall restrooms
that can be used by individuals, families,
aging adults and caregivers, parents with
young kids-anyone. The design team
also placed 50 modular tech poles along
circulation paths to integrate technology
without dependence on walls or ceilings.
The poles fit within the terminal's
other urban furniture, including benches
and planters, and enable the myriad of
amenities for passengers and operations,
including convenience outlets, WiFi,
speakers and cameras.
Represent the Region
Change at all scales starts with the question
of how we want people to spend
their time after they've come through
security. For PDX, the answer was local,
local, local. We're witnessing a positive
shift in the aviation industry, as airports
across the country thoughtfully integrate
more local restaurants and retail brands,
illustrating respect and support for small
businesses. Such operational practices
as ensuring that prices are the same
inside and outside the airport also show
respect for the people within an airport.
PDX represents the Portland community
and Pacific Northwest region in
an authentic way, celebrating its progressive
spirit, verdant nature, and creative
charm. The expanded terminal is
designed to reflect a walk in the forest,
and the open views to the airfield and
natural surroundings serve as a constant
reminder of where you are-unmistakably
Portland.
The wooden roof, constructed of
3-inch-by-6-inch beams, glulam, and
mass plywood, also firmly roots the
experience in the Pacific Northwest,
where timber has always been an important
natural resource. Oregon produces
more timber than any other U.S. state
and has one of the country's highest
concentrations of employment in the
forestry and lumber industry. In designing
the expanded PDX terminal, it was
imperative to ZGF and the Port of Portland
that the project honor the people
who have cared for the forest by creating
a strong connection to the region's
history and ensuring that the airport's
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2024 Summer Issue of Urban Land

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