Portland International Airport completed its $2.15 billion main terminal reconstruction in 2026, marking the end of an 11-year project Port of Portland officials say is the largest public infrastructure investment in Oregon history.

But the road to becoming “America’s Best Airport” was decades in the making when ZGF Architects began its long association with Portland International Airport in 1965, when Port of Portland first commissioned the firm to develop a master plan to double the size of its original 1958 terminal. Nearly six decades later, ZGF remains Port of Portland’s primary architectural partner, having completed numerous remodels and major expansions.

© Courtesy of ZGF Architects, Ema Peter

The new ZGF-designed main terminal expansion is PDX’s most aggressive expansion to date, doubling the capacity of the airport while inviting passengers and employees to celebrate the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Upon entering the newly redesigned terminal core, the stunning, 9-acre mass timber roof invites visitors to take a walk in the forest.

The roof’s undulating form celebrates the history and future of Oregon’s forest product innovation by showcasing wood locally sourced from landowners and mills within a 300-mile radius of the airport, including small land owners, tribal lands and community forests practicing sustainable forestry. Expansive windows provide views of the airfield and surrounding forested landscape.

Inspired by the sun filtering through a forested setting, the daylighting strategy consists of 49 thoughtfully placed skylights of different shapes and sizes filtering daylight through the mass timber roof’s lattice and large skylight openings, illuminating 60 percent of the terminal alongside custom hanging light fixtures.

© Courtesy of ZGF Architects, Ema Peter

Beams were designed to eliminate the need for steel hardware, minimizing the need for metals, reducing cost and aesthetically highlighting the wood. Adding to the grandness of the design, 34 massive, Y-shaped columns hold the 18-million-pound, 400,000-square-foot roof in place.

The project modernized the airport’s main terminal while increasing passenger capacity, improving seismic resilience and adding sustainability features. Airport operations continued throughout construction, with no full-day closures, according to Port of Portland.

Travelers will now experience the terminal as originally designed, with redesigned circulation routes, expanded restroom facilities, additional local shops and restaurants, and new public art installations that highlight Oregon’s culture and history.

“From the beginning, our North Star was a new PDX that reflects our values and the people and places that make this region special,” said Curtis Robinhold, executive director, Port of Portland. “The final result is a world-class airport unlike any other, shaped by local hands, local ideas, and local pride.”

© Courtesy of ZGF Architects, Ema Peter

Among the most noticeable changes for travelers are new exit corridors on the north and south sides of the terminal intended to speed movement from gates to baggage claim and ground transportation. The airport has also expanded restroom capacity, including four new banks of all-user restrooms with private floor-to-ceiling stalls.

The completed terminal adds 27 new locally owned retailers, restaurants and businesses. New tenants include Powell’s Books, Columbia Sportswear, Portland Gear, Kure Superfoods and Lola’s Cafe.

Artwork throughout the terminal emphasizes Pacific Northwest culture, with 21 permanent and rotating installations. New additions include large-scale works by Indigenous artists, glass and ceramic installations, and the restoration of Portland artist Louis Bunce’s iconic 1958 airport mural. The airport’s well-known teal carpet pattern also returns in several locations throughout the terminal.

© Courtesy of ZGF Architects, Ema Peter

The completion of the terminal reconstruction also marks the conclusion of PDX Next, Port of Portland’s long-term capital improvement program that included new concourses, a consolidated rental car facility, a parking garage and other airport upgrades.