PDX Terminal Balancing & Concourse E Extension / Hennebery Eddy Architects + Fentress Architects

Architects: Hennebery Eddy Architects, Fentress Architects
Area: 137,000 ft²
Year: 2020
Photography: Andrew Pogue; Josh Partee
Lead Architects: Timothy Eddy, Mark Outman
Design Team: Michelle Vo, Gregg Sanders, Michael Meade, Camilla Cok, Alexander Lungershausen, Pooja Kashyap, Danae Sakuma, Ashley Nored, Aly Pierce, Heidi Bertman, Patrick Boyle, Lindley Bynum, Julia Harding, Kathy Johnson, Adam Lawler, Tristan Magnuson, Jessy Miguel, Scott Moreland, Stephanie Pak, Ben Nelson, Irene Ng, Emily Green, Ellen Osborne, Abby Short, Jacob Simonson, Kevin Wade, Meghan Wirtner
Contractor: Skanska USA
Structural Engineering: KPFF Consulting Engineers, Inc.
Civil Engineering: HNTB Corporation
Mechanical Engineering: Interface Engineering, Inc.
Electrical Engineering: Interface Engineering, Inc.
Landscape Design: Mayer/Reed
Lighting Design: Candela Architectural Lighting Consultants
Acoustical Engineering: The Greenbusch Group, Inc.
Sustainability Consultant: RWDI
City: Portland
Country: United States

The PDX Terminal Balancing and Concourse E Extension is a major expansion at Portland International Airport designed to redistribute passenger demand while strengthening the airport’s spatial identity. Led by Hennebery Eddy Architects in partnership with Fentress Architects, the project extends Concourse E by 830 feet and adds approximately 137,000 square feet of new terminal space. The expansion introduces seven contact gates and two ground-loading gates, enabling airline relocations that improve operational efficiency and passenger flow. Architectural strategies emphasize daylight, long-span flexibility, and regional expression through a folded roof form and expansive glazing. Interior planning prioritizes walkability, accessibility, and clear wayfinding, while sustainability measures contributed to LEED Gold certification and prepared the concourse for future technological and programmatic change.

Pdx terminal balancing & concourse e extension / hennebery eddy architects+fentress architects

Rather than functioning as a stand-alone addition, the Concourse E Extension is conceived as a balancing mechanism within the larger airport ecosystem. It addresses long-standing asymmetries between the north and south sides of the terminal while advancing a cohesive architectural language that aligns with the existing campus. The project reflects a careful negotiation between infrastructure demands and the desire to present Portland International Airport as a welcoming civic gateway.

The most defining architectural element is the concourse roof, composed of folded, clear-span steel beams set on a regular structural rhythm. This system enables a column-free interior that enhances flexibility and preserves long sightlines, while clerestory glazing introduces controlled daylight along the length of the concourse. The roof form evokes regional landforms, translating the motion of Oregon’s canyons into a contemporary architectural expression.

Façade design further reinforces a connection to place. The south-facing curtain wall employs fritted and tinted glazing to balance daylight and thermal performance, while custom-colored glass and varied mullion depths recall the layered density of the region’s forests. Extensive glazing along both sides of the concourse maintains constant visual contact with the airfield and surrounding landscape, grounding the travel experience in its geographic context.

Inside, the extended length of the concourse is intentionally interrupted by concession nodes spaced at intervals derived from downtown Portland’s 200-foot block pattern. This organizational strategy humanizes the scale of the interior, creating moments of orientation and pause that echo the experience of walking through the city. Art installations, generous views, and full-height glazing to the north further mitigate the linearity of the space.

Universal design principles guide both planning and detailing, ensuring that the concourse serves passengers and employees with a wide range of physical and sensory needs. Moving walkways, rest areas, and dedicated support spaces are seamlessly integrated, while amenities like lactation rooms and accessible restrooms reinforce an inclusive approach. Views toward Mount Hood, the Columbia River, and the sky maintain a constant visual relationship with the natural environment.

Environmental performance is embedded into the project’s structural and systems strategies. Energy conservation measures significantly reduce predicted electrical consumption, while water-efficient fixtures and low-irrigation landscaping substantially lower water use. The remediation of contaminated soils and the provision of a solar-ready roof anticipate future sustainability initiatives. Together, these decisions position the Concourse E Extension as an adaptable, resilient piece of infrastructure that balances operational efficiency with a strong sense of regional identity.