The $2.15bn Portland International (PDX) airport has completed its main terminal expansion after a decade-long renovation. The second and final phase of the globally acclaimed main terminal has now been fully opened. Designed by ZGF for the Port of Portland, the project is already monumental. For instance, the one million-square-foot project is the largest public infrastructure project delivered in Oregon’s history.
Furthermore, it realizes a decade-long vision to create a more welcoming, sustainable, and distinctly Pacific Northwest gateway for travelers. Since phase I opened in 2024, the terminal has received multiple international honors. These include the Prix Versailles World’s Most Beautiful Airport award, Fast Company’s Best Design in North America distinction, and recognition from the Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction. Featuring a 9-acre mass timber roof, the terminal evokes the feeling of walking through a Pacific Northwest forest.
It also includes views of the airfield, abundant natural light, and interior landscapes that celebrate the beauty of the region at every step of the passenger journey. It compliments the Redmond Municipal airport expansion which as of 2026 has transitioned to the vertical phase, with the project scheduled to reach completion in late 2027. The expansion will add more than 80,000 square feet of new space.
Outlook on the PDX International Airport Main Terminal Expansion
The second phase of the PDX International Airport main terminal expansion introduces a distinct arrival experience for passengers. It includes new exit lanes on the north and south ends of the terminal to streamline concourse connections, leading arriving passengers to a new descent to baggage claim. Expanded post-security gathering areas create comfortable spaces for welcoming arriving travelers.
Moreover, skylit all-user restrooms, new local retail and dining options, and art installations complete the passenger experience. “This airport is designed to meet the needs of travelers today while adapting to the demands of the future, enabling it to serve the region for decades to come. PDX provides a gateway to the Pacific Northwest, offering an unforgettable introduction to what makes this place so special,” said ZGF Managing Partner Sharron van der Meulen.
The $2 billion terminal renovation and expansion is the largest mass timber project of its kind. Instead of building an entirely new terminal, the Port of Portland and ZGF decided to renovate and expand in place. This kept the airport fully operational throughout five years of phased construction. It also facilitated realizing schedule, time, and carbon savings. The strategy was made possible, in part, by a prefabricated wood roof that spans the entire terminal.
The $2.15bn Portland International (PDX) airport has completed its main terminal expansion after a decade-long renovation.
Sustainability and resilience
The project’s sustainable design sets a new standard for airports worldwide. The main terminal expansion doubles passenger capacity while achieving a 50% reduction in energy use per square foot, drawing on a highly efficient, all-electric ground-source heat pump. Resilient design strategies also enable the terminal to withstand a 9.0 magnitude earthquake in the Cascadia Subduction Zone.
“From their first designs to the final touches, ZGF has been an outstanding partner in creating a new PDX that reflects the best of our region,” said Curtis Robinhold, Executive Director of the Port of Portland. “Thousands of local workers brought our shared vision to life, using locally sourced materials and setting a new bar for how it should be done — resulting in an airport that couldn’t have been built anywhere else.”
The project team
Beyond ZGF as designer and the Port of Portland as owner, the Portland International Airport main terminal project team includes the Hoffman Skanska Joint Venture, KPFF, Arup, PAE and Swinerton, among others.
Project Factsheet
Project: Portland International Airport (PDX) Main Terminal Expansion and Renovation
Location: Portland, Oregon, USA
Value: Approximately $2 billion (reported locally at up to $2.15 billion)
Owner: Port of Portland
Architect / Designer: ZGF
Project team: Hoffman Skanska Joint Venture, KPFF, Arup, PAE, Swinerton, and others
Size: 1 million square feet
Signature feature: 9-acre prefabricated mass timber roof (largest mass timber airport project of its kind)
Delivery: Renovated and expanded in place over five years of phased construction, with the airport fully operational throughout; Phase I opened 2024, Phase II completed June 2026
Capacity: Doubles passenger capacity
Sustainability: 50% reduction in energy use per square foot; all-electric ground-source heat pump
Resilience: Designed to withstand a 9.0 magnitude Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake
Status: Complete and fully operational
Honors: Prix Versailles World’s Most Beautiful Airport; Fast Company Best Design in North America; Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction recognition
About ZGF
Contacted by Construction Review Online, ZGF confirmed the completion of the project and shared details of its design, delivery and project partners. Climate, context, and community are elemental to every project across ZGF’s diverse portfolio of work. Evolving from one office with strong regional roots in the Pacific Northwest to a global portfolio, the firm’s national reputation was honored with the American Institute of Architects’ Architecture Firm Award, recognizing the firm’s “high standards, humanistic concerns, and unique ability to capture the spirit of a place and the aspirations of its inhabitants.” ZGF, in partnership with Aspen-based Charles Cunniffe Architects, is now leading the design of the new Aspen/Pitkin County Airport, further expanding the firm’s national aviation portfolio.
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