EP45: Redesigning Portland airport with timber, local tribes and trust ✈️🌲
Description
Vince Granato, Chief Projects Officer at the Port of Portland, takes us inside the $2.15 billion transformation of PDX (Portland International Airport), Oregon’s largest-ever public infrastructure project. From the cult following of the airport carpet to partnerships with local Native American tribes, Vince reveals how the new terminal was built with flexibility, seismic resilience, and sustainability in mind. Discover how a modular timber roof was constructed across the airfield, then moved into place, and how working with the Yakama Nation helped redefine what sustainable sourcing really means.00:00:00 - Episode Begins00:01:13 - Intro to Vince and the PDX Project00:04:04 - The Famous PDX Carpet00:07:37 - America’s Best Airport?00:08:55 - The Main Terminal Building Redesign00:15:37 - Building the Structure out of Timber00:19:42 - Seismic Resilience00:25:57 - Finances00:33:35 - Why Such a Unique Design?00:36:15 - The Architect + Contractor00:43:17 - How Long did the Design Take?00:45:42 - Where Were the Elements Built?00:53:07 - Working with the Yakama Nation01:07:09 - Different Phases of the Project01:09:02 - Sustainability01:11:14 - Environmental Impact of Air Travel01:14:27 - Consulting for Other Airports01:18:13 - Final Thoughts01:19:31 - How to Get in Touch
Learn more about the Port of Portland, the award-winningredesign of PDX Airport,and connect with Vince on LinkedIn.
Subscribe, rate, and review High Pointwherever you listen—and tell us: would youtake a foot selfie on the carpet?