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Portland Airport Grows With Expansive Mass Timber Roof Canopy

ByMyProperty Life

As an alternative to concrete and other conventional composites, wood has re-emerged as a popular building material. Long thought of as too fragile and prone to damage, this natural resource has been re-engineered into a suite of fortified structural elements known as mass timber: glued, nailed doweled panels and beams able to shore-up everything from large residences to full-scale skyscrapers. The especially articulated roof of the recently expanded main terminal at Portland Airport (PDX) might be its most impressive application yet.

A spacious atrium, designed by ZGF, boasts a glass ceiling and is filled with large trees and plants. People walk through the area as light streams in from above, illuminating the lush greenery.

Photo: Ema Peter

Nationwide architecture firm ZGF implemented glulam (glue laminated) Douglas Fir for this massive nine-acre canopy, not only as an innovative and sustainable solution but also as a nod to local ecology and deeply-rooted cultural traditions. It’s a far cry from the standard glass and steel found at any other airport around the globe. The surrounding region is known for its dense old growth forests and thriving lumber trade. Most of the 3.5 million planks implemented in the project were sourced from smaller family operated and sustainably minded purveyors, as well as indigenous nations, based within a 300-mile radius; accounting for a notable reduction in the new building’s embodied carbon footprint.

“With the new PDX, we wanted travelers to know they were in the Pacific Northwest before they even left the airport. And for locals, we wanted it to feel like home,” says Vince Granato, Chief Projects Officer at the Port of Portland. “Creating that sense of place started with ZGF’s spectacular design, which was brought to life by thousands of local craftspeople.”

The spacious airport terminal, featuring ZGF's elegant wooden ceiling design, showcases indoor trees while travelers walk with luggage. Natural light filters through skylights, creating a serene ambiance.

Photo: Ema Peter

The ZGF-designed airport terminal boasts wooden ceilings, lush trees, and ample seating. As travelers stroll and relax on the steps, a digital sign suspended from above keeps everyone informed.

Photo: Dror Baldinger FAIA

When it came to finding a way to expand this major hub “in place” rather than build entirely anew and cause significant distributions – the scourge of many other recent airport renovations – the Port of Portland authority called on ZGF to devise a phased construction strategy. Their solution was to create the expansive roof as a way of defining a significantly increased floor area without taking away from vital and well-utilized gates. This new single volume colossus also vastly ameliorates passenger experience; both in terms of practicality and atmosphere.

The curvilinear installation is defined by a “forest” of open lattice structure slats that give way to concave recesses, which allows an ample amount of natural light to filter through. Inside, passengers engage with a series of streetscape and parkland-like plazas and fully-enclosed concessions before reaching their gates in one of four concourses. Biophilic design cues – the bringing of nature indoors as a means of fostering a better sense of well-being – can be found throughout. Everything from the flooring to the finishing in the individual hospitality spaces was also sourced locally. The canopy anchors large glass walls that frame unobstructed tarmac views and even the forests in the distance.

The modern interior, designed by ZGF, features a wooden ceiling and trees in planters. People relax on cushioned seats as a large digital screen showcases an image of a person in blue.

Photo: Dror Baldinger FAIA

“Everybody loves Portland International Airport,” concludes Gene Sandoval, ZGF Partner. “We had a tall order to evolve a terminal that’s essentially multiple buildings pieced together since the 1950s – and double the capacity while designing an experience passengers and employees will love as much as the original.”

The spacious modern ZGF-designed airport terminal features a wooden ceiling, lush green trees, and people leisurely walking or sitting throughout the welcoming space.

Photo: Ema Peter

A modern airport terminal designed by ZGF features a stunning wooden ceiling, lush indoor trees, ample seating, and a sleek digital departure board. Passengers leisurely stroll through the airy space with luggage in tow.

Photo: Dror Baldinger FAIA

The largest mass timber building of its kind, Portland Airport’s new main terminal raises the bar in site-responsive and sustainable airport design but also non-disruptive expansion. For the redevelopment of Chicago O’Hare Airport, noted architecture firm Studio Gang is taking a similar approach. The next phase of the PDX mass timber transportation is set for completion in 2026.

A man and child holding hands walk through an airport terminal designed by ZGF, featuring colorful geometric decor overhead and a display case on the left.

Photo: Ema Peter

Nighttime view of a modern ZGF-designed building with large glass windows, showcasing interior lighting and silhouetted figures inside.

Photo: Ema Peter

As dusk descends, the exterior view of the ZGF-designed airport terminal comes alive, with a plane parked on the left and the building beautifully illuminated under a clear sky.

Photo: Dror Baldinger FAIA

A logging site buzzed with activity as stacked logs awaited loading by a crane into the iconic red truck, set against the backdrop of a sun-dappled forest clearing.

An exploded diagram of a superstructure, showcasing ZGF's design with a roof, glulam beams, long-span steel girders, and columns in sequence.

Drawing: Courtesy of ZGF

Diagram by ZGF illustrating prefabrication sites for a terminal, columns, and roof. Distances of 3/4 mile and 9 miles are linked by dashed lines marking movement paths.

Drawing: Courtesy of ZGF

To see this and other projects by the firm, visit zgf.com.

Photography by Dror Baldinger FAIA and Ema Peter as noted.

Adrian Madlener is a Brussels-born, New York-based writer specializing in collectible and sustainable design. With a particular focus on topics that exemplify the best in craft-led experimentation, he’s committed to supporting talents that push the envelope in various disciplines.

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