As part of an ongoing infrastructure investment from the state of Oregon, a new, renovated main terminal of the Portland International Airport (PDX) is now officially open to the public.
The completion of this renovation project marks the finalization of “Construction Phase One,” which is part of the aforementioned infrastructure investment plan. The plan began in Spring of 2021 and has now made tangible strides in becoming a reality.
According to Governor Tina Kotek, the new renovation expands the main terminal to 1 million square feet of space — which is approximately double the original size. Additionally, the project aimed to design things “the Oregon way”. Gov. Kotek said in a statement: “This beautiful space greets visitors the Oregon way, with sustainable materials, energy efficiency, and resilient design. I am confident it will meet the needs of our growing region.”
The terminal also features up to 72 live trees (so far) which give the place a distinct “Pacific Northwest” feel. If you want to know what truly gives the renovations a distinct feel, then simply look up. You will see a wooden roof that has sweeping patterns from Douglas Fir trees which are supported by structural beams. These trees were picked from a meticulous selective process to do so as sustainably as possible. Does it get more “Pacific Northwest” than that?
The new terminal will also bring a return to pre-security shopping and dining. Post security, travelers will also have more options than ever before, from coffee to Portland Gear and Pendleton. The lack of food and retail options has long been a criticism against this airport, but this has now apparently changed.
Phase Two of the renovation process is set to begin August 15th, with an estimated completion date of Winter 2025/26. This second phase will renovate older security areas in new exit lanes, making the airport navigation process smoother for travelers. The renovations are broken up into “phases” so the airport can continue functioning normally during construction.
