For its next trick, Portland International Airport has turned its main terminal into a forest glade. Sure, visitors may technically be on Northeast Airport Way on the industrial edge of the city of Portland, but the feeling when walking into the new main terminal, which was unveiled to the public on Wednesday, is that of being transported somewhere else entirely. Now, the curtains that blocked most of the terminal from view for the last three years have been removed.
Visitors are greeted by a vast 392,000-square-foot wood-beamed ceiling with 49 skylights, tossing down dappled sunlight, two massive screens showing changing nature scenes and what will ultimately be over 5,000 plants, including actual, living trees. “It doesn’t feel like the Portland Airport anymore,” said Mike Burling on Wednesday morning. Burling is a Portlander, on his way to France with his wife and daughter.
“We were just standing here, just in awe,” said his wife, Dana Burling, as the three stood at the edge of the new, wide-open before-security common area. “It has a different vibe,” said their daughter, Sarah Burling. Other visitors Wednesday noticed the vibe shift, too.
Maryori Delgado and Hannah Contreras had just gotten off a flight from Las Vegas, where they spent 10 hours during a layover. “I love it,” Contreras said. “Compared to Las Vegas.
It was really depressing over there.” “It’s very calm and relaxing,” Delgado added. Both women will start college in the fall.
Contr.