The world's largest mass timber airport has opened. A $2 billion project

Portland is celebrating the opening of the world's largest glulam timber airport, housed in the Portland International Airport (PDX) terminal. The project, a collaboration between architecture firm ZGF and the Port of Portland, is the result of a $2 billion renovation. A key feature of the airport is a 9-acre mass timber roof that brings the atmosphere of a Pacific Northwest forest inside the building.

The project involved renovating and expanding the existing terminal to serve up to 35 million passengers per year by 2045, without interrupting operations during the five-year phased renovation. Design features include intimate plazas with trees and shops that evoke Portland's pedestrian streets, as well as a variety of seating areas with greenery, all designed to create a sense of well-being and comfort for travelers.

The project also set new sustainability standards for airports around the world, including a heating system powered by geothermal pumps and sustainable design strategies that allow the building to withstand earthquakes of up to magnitude 9.0. All of the wood used in the project was harvested within a 300-mile radius of Portland and comes from small family-owned logging operations, non-profit organizations, and tribal nations.

This project not only highlights the beauty and potential of mass timber construction, but also demonstrates a strong commitment to sustainability.