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Keeping the heart and soul of America's best airport
Journal of Airport Management,
17
(1),
57-70
(2022)
Abstract
How do you improve an airport so beloved that passengers write poems and songs about it? Consistently hailed as ‘America's Best Airport’, Portland International Airport is increasing capacity by 65 per cent to accommodate 35m passengers over the next two decades. A series of transformative projects will consolidate 80 years of expansion and renovation into one floorplate while doubling the main terminal's footprint to deliver more fun, more food and more flow. Amid this future growth and a current pandemic, learn how PDX is maintaining its uniquely curated local character cherished by both passengers and employees. This paper describes how to establish a distinct regional identity via passenger journey mapping, the integration of local, sustainable materials to create a sense of place while also reducing carbon footprint, how to use daylight, biophilia and sightlines as well as local amenities to reduce traveller stress, planning and design choices that establish an equitable passenger journey for all and engineering and construction considerations to minimise passenger disruption while keeping the airport fully operational.
Keywords: change management; construction; airport growth; aviation design; best practices
The full article is available to subscribers to the journal.
Author's Biography
Vince Granato was named the Port of Portland's Chief Projects Officer in December 2019. This position was created out of a need for focused oversight of the Port's US$2.2bn series of projects referred to as PDX Next, which will increase the Portland International Airport (PDX) capacity by 65 per cent. Vince has over 35 years of experience with the Port of Portland in various managerial and financial capacities, including serving as the Port's chief operating officer, where he was responsible for all operating functions for the Port, including Portland International Airport, a two-airport general aviation reliever system and all of the Port's marine terminals. Previous to that, Vince was the Port's chief financial officer.
Sharron Van Der Meulen is the managing partner of ZGF Architect's Portland office and leader of the interior design practice. Her designs have touched numerous offices, healthcare facilities, and public spaces, including Google, Nike, Expensify and Hanna Andersson headquarters, Randall Children's Hospital at Legacy Emanuel and Colorado Children's Hospital and multiple international embassies and consulates under the US Department of State Design Excellence programme. Sharron's projects are lauded as inspiring places for people to live, work, heal and play. She finds a source of inspiration in the Pacific Northwest's vibrant arts and design communities and diverse landscapes. She draws on her inspiration to deliver designs that demonstrate strong understanding of brand, authenticity and place; and works closely with her clients to articulate their aspirations and bring organisational goals to life.
