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The $2 billion expansion at Portland International Airport (PDX) required construction to move forward inside one of the Pacific Northwest’s busiest airports while remaining fully operational. PDX serves 35 million passengers each year, leaving little room for disruption during construction.

 

RWES provided temporary enclosures for construction that allowed crews to work within active terminal spaces while maintaining clear separation from passengers and airport operations.

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Project Overview

• Location: Portland International Airport (PDX)

• Project Value: $2 billion

• Size: One million square feet

• Capacity: Doubled terminal size, supporting up to 35 million passengers annually

• Client: Port of Portland

• Architect & Interior Design: ZGF

• Structural Engineer: KPFF, Arup

• MEP Engineer: PAE, Arup

• Geotechnical Engineer: GRI

• Civil Engineer & Airside Planning: HNTB

• General Contractor: Hoffman & Skanska Joint Venture

• Pre-Construction: Turner Construction

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A Large-Scale Build in an Occupied Terminal

Construction included major structural and interior work completed in phases while the airport stayed open. A key feature of the expansion is the nine-acre mass timber roof—the largest in the world.

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Roof construction highlights:

• Built using 3.5 million board feet of wood, sourced within 300 miles of PDX

• Prefabricated off-site and lifted into place

• Reduced embodied carbon by 70% compared to a full terminal replacement

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Interior work continued below the roof as public areas remained active, requiring reliable airport construction enclosures to control space, safety, and site conditions.

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Enclosure Systems Designed for Phased Construction

As construction zones shifted, RWES enclosure systems were reconfigured and reused throughout the project. The ability to move panels between work areas supported phased construction without rebuilding temporary containment.

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This approach helped maintain consistent site conditions across a long-term project while limiting material waste and downtime.​

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What’s Next

The next phase of the $2B Portland International Airport (PDX) expansion is underway and scheduled for completion in 2026. This phase will add additional shops, restaurants, and new exit lanes while the airport continues operating at full capacity.

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RWES will remain in place to support year-round construction, helping crews work efficiently without slowing passenger traffic as the one-million-square-foot terminal continues to evolve. The expanded terminal is designed to accommodate up to 35 million passengers annually by 2045