Image courtesy of Mammoet

By KERRY SMITH BUCK

PORTLAND, Ore. – The $2.15-billion Portland International Airport expansion is nearing its final stages.

While the stunning new mass-timber main terminal has been open to travelers for nearly two years, the final remaining construction – including new baggage claim exits, additional local restaurants and shops – is completing this summer.

New baggage claim escalators and final exit lanes are among the final pieces of the five-year project.

Hoffman Skanska Joint Venture, between Hoffman Construction Co. and Skanska USA, both of Portland, Ore., has served as the general contractor for the 860,000-square-foot renovation and expansion of the main terminal and a reconstruction of Concourse B.

ZGF of Portland has worked as architect.

The project, known collectively as PDX Next, also includes the expansions of Concourses B and E and transportation upgrades to help passengers get in and out of PDX more efficiently.

The enormous Terminal Core Redevelopment project at PDX includes these scopes:

• The Mass Timber Roof: The centerpiece of the redesign features the world’s largest mass timber airport roof – nearly one million square feet of locally, sustainably sourced Oregon wood. The roof alone weighs 19 million pounds.
• Enhanced Experience: Dozens of locally inspired shops and restaurants are being introduced to offer a true Pacific Northwest flavor.
• Seismic Upgrades: The entire main terminal structure was engineered to float and survive a major magnitude 9.0 earthquake.

• The project team seeks LEED Gold certification. Sustainable features include a wooden roof, an open-loop ground source heat pump system, LED lighting, daylighting and the use of well water for non-potable uses.