Forests, llamas and alpacas — oh, my!
These aren’t your typical airport finds, but renovations at one US airport terminal are bringing the good outdoors inside.
Portland International Airport (PDX) officially reopened its fundamental terminal on Wednesday — and the $2.15 billion renovation is removed from standard.
Arriving and departing travelers might be met with a forest growing inside, with touches of the Pacific Northwest’s signature greenery and landscapes, including live trees and plants and natural light through the wood roof to create the effect of a forest cover.
In keeping with a press release, there might be greater than 5,000 plants in the brand new terminal by the tip of construction, suspended from the ceiling and below the trees to provide the feel and look of a regional forest.
Travelers may even get a sense of a “walk in a [Pacific Northwest] forest” from 49 skylights, which may even help reduce the necessity for electrical lighting and cut energy use per square foot in half, in line with the airport.
“Every a part of the brand new terminal design goals to reinforce the traveler journey and reduce stress,” ZGF Architects Managing Partner Sharron van der Meulen said in a press release. “Travelers are immediately greeted with expansive views to the airfield, abundant natural light and luxurious interior landscapes that create a way of wonder and delight and evoke a walk through a Pacific Northwest forest.”
The entire wood used for the airport terminal was sourced from inside 300 miles of the airport, the airport release said, and the ceiling, particularly, will be traced back to 11 family-owned, non-profit and Tribal forests — all of that are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, which sets forest management standards, and practice ecological forestry.
PDX may even proceed to have occasional appearances from “therapy” llamas and alpacas, adding to the outdoor experience.
“The llamas and alpacas visit PDX to appease and delight travelers as a part of the airport’s broader pet therapy program,” Allison Ferre, media relations manager with the Port of Portland, which runs PDX, told CNN. “They sometimes visit a pair times per 30 days.”
The TSA experience has been upgraded to match the surface world as well.
Two video partitions throughout the TSA checkpoints mix six PNW-inspired landscapes and vignettes designed by local artist Ivan McClellan. The partitions sync with real-time data, so it’s different day-after-day based on time, weather and passenger volume.
“Our focus throughout this whole project was: How will we reflect the pride and love all of us have for the region in the brand new PDX?” Curtis Robinhold, executive director for the Port of Portland, said in a press release.
“And that query drove every decision. To work with locally-owned small businesses using local materials, to fill the brand new PDX with local art and shops from our favourite neighborhoods … It was plenty of local love for the Pacific Northwest that made all of it occur.”
The expansion is being done in two parts, with the second and final phase starting Thursday, Aug. 15, with expected completion in early 2026.
The second phase also will include everlasting exit lanes, meet-and-greet areas, and more local shops and restaurants.
Forests, llamas and alpacas — oh, my!
These aren’t your typical airport finds, but renovations at one US airport terminal are bringing the good outdoors inside.
Portland International Airport (PDX) officially reopened its fundamental terminal on Wednesday — and the $2.15 billion renovation is removed from standard.
Arriving and departing travelers might be met with a forest growing inside, with touches of the Pacific Northwest’s signature greenery and landscapes, including live trees and plants and natural light through the wood roof to create the effect of a forest cover.
In keeping with a press release, there might be greater than 5,000 plants in the brand new terminal by the tip of construction, suspended from the ceiling and below the trees to provide the feel and look of a regional forest.
Travelers may even get a sense of a “walk in a [Pacific Northwest] forest” from 49 skylights, which may even help reduce the necessity for electrical lighting and cut energy use per square foot in half, in line with the airport.
“Every a part of the brand new terminal design goals to reinforce the traveler journey and reduce stress,” ZGF Architects Managing Partner Sharron van der Meulen said in a press release. “Travelers are immediately greeted with expansive views to the airfield, abundant natural light and luxurious interior landscapes that create a way of wonder and delight and evoke a walk through a Pacific Northwest forest.”
The entire wood used for the airport terminal was sourced from inside 300 miles of the airport, the airport release said, and the ceiling, particularly, will be traced back to 11 family-owned, non-profit and Tribal forests — all of that are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, which sets forest management standards, and practice ecological forestry.
PDX may even proceed to have occasional appearances from “therapy” llamas and alpacas, adding to the outdoor experience.
“The llamas and alpacas visit PDX to appease and delight travelers as a part of the airport’s broader pet therapy program,” Allison Ferre, media relations manager with the Port of Portland, which runs PDX, told CNN. “They sometimes visit a pair times per 30 days.”
The TSA experience has been upgraded to match the surface world as well.
Two video partitions throughout the TSA checkpoints mix six PNW-inspired landscapes and vignettes designed by local artist Ivan McClellan. The partitions sync with real-time data, so it’s different day-after-day based on time, weather and passenger volume.
“Our focus throughout this whole project was: How will we reflect the pride and love all of us have for the region in the brand new PDX?” Curtis Robinhold, executive director for the Port of Portland, said in a press release.
“And that query drove every decision. To work with locally-owned small businesses using local materials, to fill the brand new PDX with local art and shops from our favourite neighborhoods … It was plenty of local love for the Pacific Northwest that made all of it occur.”
The expansion is being done in two parts, with the second and final phase starting Thursday, Aug. 15, with expected completion in early 2026.
The second phase also will include everlasting exit lanes, meet-and-greet areas, and more local shops and restaurants.
