The concourse was designed with a strong connection to nature to increase the quality of the passenger experience and reduce the stress of traveling. Full-height windows offer expansive views out to the airfield and increased natural light which filters through the interior plantings with exterior sunshades that provide maximum comfort. Daylight optimization went beyond the façade design; the ceiling is designed to hit the optimal level of light reflectance value (LRV), a process that involves the color, perforation size, surface glossiness, and selection of light fixtures. The design allows daylight to penetrate deep into the space to further improve passenger comfort.

Importance was placed on the selection of sustainable and locally sourced materials, examples of which are featured prominently throughout the concourse. Along the main circulation of the double-story space, 9,000-board-feet of FSC-certified Oregon White Oak was sourced from within a 60-mile radius of Salem, Oregon. The wood provides acoustical benefits which balance the hard terrazzo flooring, contributing to volume control for greater passenger comfort. Hold rooms also feature the iconic “PDX carpet”, which the airport is well-known for, offering both comfort and familiarity. A wood ceiling in the main circulation area serves to differentiate the space from the ceiling tiles in the hold rooms.

Pacific Northwest-inspired biophilic—or nature-based design elements—reference Oregon flora and are part of the elevated new restroom design by Sara Schmidt Design, which are incorporated throughout the airport to create a cohesive narrative. The entries to the restrooms in Concourse B are marked by graphic, oversized, mosaic ferns in calming shades of green that connect with the greenery throughout the concourse.

The northeast façade’s folds and pleats form tall windows, framing views of the terminal’s iconic canopy. Inside, a graphic wood wall, designed by EGD consultant Sara Schmidt Design in collaboration with ZGF, welcomes visitors with a pattern crafted from Oregon white oak. 

RYAN! Fedderson, a Tacoma, Washington-based artist and a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, created Inhabitance, an immersive series of three interconnected artworks: the Sentinel landscapes featuring PNW land biomes; abstract Habitat Tiles which conjure the texture and patterns of these habitats; and the gently rolling, rainbow-infused Cloud Walk which rims the second level. The artworks, which include depictions of a coastal beach, native prairie, temperate rainforest, high desert, and alpine mountain range, add to the sense of place and highlight the exceptional diversity of the Pacific Northwest biomes. They are also a moment to amplify the Port of Portland’s commitment to their core values of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Other key design elements include a 750-foot-long covered walkway for ground loading planes. Tall glass walls protect passengers from the damp northwest elements when boarding the plane, while also providing a sense of connection and views to the airfield.

The Port of Portland prioritized sustainability from the start of the design process, and by simply choosing to renovate the existing concourse instead of building a new one, the project achieved significant embodied carbon savings. Sustainability goals were met through the use of locally sourced wood, responsibly sourced materials, reduced fossil fuels, the use of LEDs, and water consumption reduction strategies. Each façade was tuned to its orientation’s unique sun trajectories to increase daylight, create biophilic shadow play, provide thermal comfort, and control painful glare from direct sun for both passengers and employees.