Alongside plans for the world’s tallest wooden tower, there’s another ambitious wood project underway in the US. ZGF Architects has unveiled an impressive addition to Portland International Airport (PDX), topped by a massive wooden roof measuring a whopping 9 acres (3.6 hectares).
The project combines nine buildings that have been assembled over decades into a new floor plan and unites everything under the timber roof. ZGF Architects carried out the work with minimal disruption to the airport. An important part of this was the prefabrication of the roof in a factory and its subsequent positioning.
The roof itself weighs 18 million pounds (about 8 million kilograms) and is made of glulam and other woods, all sourced within a 300-mile (482-kilometer) radius of the terminal. It also contains mechanical and wiring systems and has 49 skylights to maximize natural light inside. It can also withstand severe earthquakes.
“Because PDX is located in the Cascadia subduction zone, the new terminal is designed to withstand magnitude 9 earthquakes,” explains ZGF Architects. “The roof is supported by 34 Y-shaped columns, which are equipped with seismic isolation bearings at the top to allow the roof structure to move laterally – up to 24 inches – during an earthquake.”
Dror Baldinger
As is currently a welcome trend in airport design, the interior has been designed to be as pleasant and relaxing as possible. Created in collaboration with Place Landscape Architecture, it includes 72 large trees spread throughout the terminal, as well as cascading gardens and over 5,000 strategically placed plants. The idea is to replicate Portland’s pedestrian-friendly, tree-lined streets.
The airport expansion is part of a larger renovation and has a total budget of $2 billion. It is designed to double PDX’s capacity and help the airport handle up to 35 million passengers annually by 2045. This is the first phase of the project and has already opened to visitors, but the second phase is still underway and will continue to expand through 2026.
Source: ZGF Architects
