Something to Smile about in April
PDX construction 101
You’ve likely noticed changes and construction as you go about your work, including the fact that we’ve removed the ceiling pre-security. Don’t worry: This “industrial chic” aesthetic is only temporary as we gear up to build a new roof over the airport…and that’s only part of what we have in the works!
If you’re reading these PDX Next updates, are subscribed to our weekly PDX People newsletter and keep an eye on the digital signage, you’re already in the know, but may still have a few questions. Or maybe you just need a great resource to share with curious passengers. With that in mind, we put together this helpful guide to the major milestones of PDX Next projects, including the new main terminal, Concourse B and flexible transportation upgrades.
Sneak Peak at Artist RYAN! Feddersen’s Upcoming Concourse B Installation
When you step into the bigger and brighter Concourse B, set to open in summer 2021, the new artwork will probably catch a glimpse of you before you realize it’s gazing back. You’ll see it in the engraved steel portraits of some of Oregon’s most scenic places — a large graphic eye gradually appears in each landscape as you pass.
The optical illusion — technically known as a lenticular portrait — makes you not only pause to look at the art, but physically move around the space and change your vantage to see every dimension of it. Above is a sneak preview of a mock up of her upcoming installation. Read the full conversation with RYAN! and learn what inspires her and how the intersection of art and its audience influences her work.
Construction Impacts to Expect
For your safety, do not enter construction areas. To avoid serious injury, never cross a construction rope, barricade or fence to enter a construction site. We don’t want you to get hurt!
To help you plan for what’s ahead, we’re listing construction impacts in order by date. These updates are posted once a month, but information is constantly evolving – you’re encouraged to check back periodically to see what’s new, noted in red.
Get the Latest PDX Next News in 30 Minutes
Want the inside scoop on construction at PDX? Jen Reynolds with the Port of Portland along with Pat Bifone and Caitlin Powell of Hoffman-Skanska will share the latest construction updates and answer your questions about PDX Next in just 30 minutes. They’ll even give you an early look at architectural renderings and share some behind-the-scenes photos and videos!
Join us for the next one. Grab a cup of coffee on the last Tuesday of every month and join us to learn how we’re bringing new airport designs to life together. The next update is scheduled for Tuesday, May 25 at 10:30 a.m. Use this link to access the meeting on May 25.
Main Terminal Soft Demolition Begins
As construction gets underway in the former Clocktower Plaza area, you can expect to hear loud noises and experience vibration from time to time, especially in the ticket lobby and around the TSA checkpoints.
We know this can be challenging to work around, and the safety of employees and passengers is our priority. To make sure noise is within acceptable levels – think no louder than a diesel truck – our safety specialists will be monitoring this work. Barriers are in place to help reduce volume and any high-noise activities will be performed during off-hours.
We’re also working on a way to make earplugs available for your comfort and to help keep passengers comfortable. In the interim, please talk with your manager if you have noise concerns.
Restroom Renovations and Temporary Closures
While the current all-user restroom on Concourse C is closed, we’ve opened a temporary location by Gate C12. You’ll see a new door and sign during this time.
The public restrooms on the pre-security side of the B/C checkpoint are closed for the next few months. This is due to anticipated congestion in the area as a result of construction. The closest pre-security restrooms on the south side are downstairs in baggage claim. The public restrooms by the D/E checkpoint are also open.
Finally, the restroom between Gates C3 and C5 is now closed for renovation, part of an effort to update and upgrade all restrooms at PDX. This restroom will reopen on Monday, Aug. 2.
Concourse B Roof Work Impacts
Have you experienced some unpleasant odors in baggage claim and other areas around PDX? These are related to the Concourse B roofing work which involves using tar.
The odors are intermittent because roof work is done only on dry days and the wind will carry the smells if it is blowing towards the terminal. We have investigated and tested the air quality, and it is within normal limits. We know this is challenging, to help reduce the odors we adjusted HVAC system. Weather permitting, we expect the work to be fully complete in mid-May.
Project Milestones
Goodbye Clocktower Plaza, Hello New Main Terminal
We said goodbye to what was once the Oregon Market, what is now Clocktower Plaza and what will soon be the heart of the new main terminal.
What’s the plan now? We’re starting work to create brighter, more open spaces. When the new main terminal opens, this area – including the ticket counters and pre-security shops and restaurants – is going to look a little different. But the future vision will still have a plaza-like feel.
Designs for the new main terminal take inspiration from the human-friendly scale of Portland’s blocks and the rhythm of your favorite neighborhoods. Expect to see independent storefronts clustered together along a tree-lined “street,” with musicians strumming guitars on the corner and café seating spilling out onto patios. [Bonus: We’re also working on a new installation that’s guaranteed to make you smile all the way through construction.]
Concourse Connector Made Its Move
Remember when we told you the beloved Concourse Connector would be split in half and repurposed to create two new bypasses for employees and passengers to get safely around the main terminal construction?
These photos show the start of that process, as the Concourse Connector begins its second life. In these photos you can see the Connector being divided into sections and specialized moving vehicles transporting those parts to their new homes.
Concourse B Tops Out
With all the construction for the Concourse E extension and the flexible transportation hub, you’ve probably heard about “topping out” ceremonies a few times by now. But in case you missed it, it’s an old Scandinavian tradition designed to appease tree-dwelling spirits displaced during construction and celebrates the milestone of the last (“topmost”) piece of structural steel being placed on a project. That’s exactly what happened last week on Concourse B – look for the pine tree and American flag used to mark the spot.
Questions?
Have questions or suggestions about the construction happening at PDX? Email hello@pdxnext.com.
