Portland Leans Into that Pacific Northwest Vibe

#PDXCarpet selfies encouraged

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“Bring. Back. The. Carpet.” signs on the construction walls blocking off the new mass-timber terminal at Portland International Airport, known as PDX, playfully state.

You know the carpet. The garish teal expanse of fabric with a hash pattern that some say is based on the layout of PDX’s runways that’s beloved locally and an icon of Portland kitsch. #PDXCarpet is the viral sensation that makes a comeback in the new ZGF Architects-designed terminal that opens on August 14.

Even your intrepid reporter couldn’t resist wearing his PDX Carpet socks (I left my hat at home) on a recent pre-opening tour of the terminal.

The new Portland terminal will feature the original PDX Carpet initially in two locations above the security checkpoints.

The carpet is just one aspect of the new terminal that makes it uniquely Portland. The building is a voluminous structure with a roof lattice made of wood sourced from within 300 miles of the airport. It features everything from indoor trees (not local pines owing to the need for trees acclimated to indoor, climate-controlled environments) and plants to local shops, a beer hall, and even stadium seating where people can watch and wait for arriving travelers.

The terminal truly does more than just lip service to the idea of anchoring its architecture in Portland and the Pacific Northwest.

But, if we’re being honest, I expected no less from PDX.

Travelers will have a clear line of sight from curbside to the airfield through the terminal once the construction walls come down.