Airports all over the U.S. (and the world) are investing tens of billions of dollars to modernize and expand.
14.08.2024 - 19:48 / afar.com
After five years, the first phase of Portland International Airport’s (PDX) massive main terminal renovation, featuring streamlined ticket counters and security checkpoints, a light- and plant-filled lobby, a sprawling beer bar, and the return of the famous PDX carpet, is complete. The new terminal officially opened on August 14.
PDX started its transformation in 2019, although it isn’t done yet. Now, portions of the north and south terminals will go under wraps for remodeling, which will see them turned into expanded exit areas, additional shops, and meeting spaces. The second and final phase is slated for a December 2025 completion date.
Here’s what you can expect in the newly opened terminal.
One of the first things you’ll notice when walking into the new terminal is that you can see all the way through to the airfield—the space has a very open and airy concept. Another is the smell of freshly cut wood.
The soaring timber-lattice roof is made entirely of Douglas fir, sourced from the forests of sustainable loggers and sovereign lands tribal groups located within 300 miles of the airport.
“What we really wanted here was this sense that when you’re in Portland, you know you’re in Portland,” Vince Granato, chief projects officer at the Port of Portland, told Afar. “The ceiling helps reflect the region.”
Sharron van der Meulen, managing director at ZGF Architects, the firm that designed the terminal, explained why Douglas fir was chosen for the ceiling over other materials—apart from the wood being an abundant local material and there being many skilled woodworkers in the area.
“It is really part of our identity, that inherent connection to wood products,” van der Meulen said.
The design inspiration for the new space was “a walk in the forest.”
Photo by Ema Peter
According to Granato, the design inspiration behind the new terminal was “a walk in the forest.” The curved canopy, exposed wooden beams, and 49 skylights are meant to create a setting that is reminiscent of dappled sunlight on the forest floor.
“Everything in the design is intended to reduce stress, [and] make the journey a little more pleasant,” Granato said. (That same reason is why the airport brings in llamas and alpacas a few times a month.)
There are also more than 70 trees, including black olives and ficus, and more than 5,000 shrubs scattered throughout the terminal (the latter all being native to the Pacific Northwest).
The ticketing and bag drop areas are closest to the doors. From there, travelers can follow the terrazzo and Oregon white oak floors left or right to the twin security areas, each outfitted with automated security bins. (The floors’ curvaceous pattern mimics the geometry of the roof while also giving a subtle nod to
Airports all over the U.S. (and the world) are investing tens of billions of dollars to modernize and expand.
Universal Orlando Resort has rolled out a brand-new offer for dining options.Available to purchase now, the Dining Card Vacation Package applies to 4- or 5-plus-night on-site stays and includes park-to-park theme park tickets for Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure, the resort shared withTravel + Leisure. An option to add on Universal Volcano Bay is also available. The value of the dining card, up to $1,000, is dependent on length of stay and resort, and this offer can not be combined with any other discounts.
Good morning from Skift. It’s Tuesday, August 27, 2024, and now, here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.
Nothing quite says late summer or early fall like a delicious hand-crafted doughnut straight out of the fryer.
We’re back with another edition of the brands and properties that have caught my eye this season.
It’s a steamy May morning in Thailand’s lush Khao Yai National Park, just a two-hour drive northeast of Bangkok, and the tok-tok call of a gecko sounds as I stand on a balcony overlooking the GranMonte wine estate. Among its holdings are 7 guest rooms and 40 acres of vineyards at the edge of a tropical jungle, all baking in the 80-degree heat. The winery’s workers protect themselves from the sun, wearing wide brimmed hats and long-sleeved layers as they prune the vines that tangle and twist around dozens of constructed frames. Later in the year, the grapes that they bear will become bottles of Grenache, Verdelho, and Cabernet Sauvignon—all of them with roots, literally, in Thai soil.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Liza Jean Miezejeski, a content creator and founder of Skola, a startup to help students navigate moving to Europe to attend university. It has been edited for length and clarity.
Thoughts of fall travel might conjure up images of cozy cabins and hiking through fiery red foliage. This autumn, however, a wave of new airline routes from the US is shaking up the usual pumpkin-spice-laced doldrums and offering easy new ways to access exciting destinations. Think city escapes in Northern Africa, beaches on tiny Caribbean islands, and lush nature in Oceania.
Ever wonder why Oregon State University's mascot is a beaver, why there's an NBA team called the New Orleans Pelicans, or what a Tar Heel is?
Barbados Tourism Marketing, Inc. (BTMI) has just announced its “Say Hello to Barbados: The Island of Rewards” campaign with exclusive offers and incentives.
Aug 20, 2024 • 5 min read
Edelweiss, a Switzerland-based airline that is owned by Lufthansa, recently announced new twice-weekly flights from Seattle's SeaTac Airport to Zurich Airport. The flights will operate every Monday and Saturday and depart Seattle at 4:25 p.m. arriving into Zurich at 11:45 a.m. the next day.