McKinstry Architectural Metals Shine in Portland International Airport’s Expansion and Renovation

Catching a flight out of Portland International Airport? You’ll likely notice a fresh feel at PDX’s new main terminal. A $2 billion expansion and renovation is underway. Whether you’re looking inside, outside, up, down or forward, you’ll see miles of decorative architectural metals work from McKinstry.

One of the first things passengers will spot is the metal at the ticketing counters. McKinstry touched every piece, including the panels on the wall behind each airline’s check-in counter and the metal enclosures for the luggage scales.

After walking past the ticketing counter, look up. The unique roof features McKinstry metal work. Miles of stainless steel are layered under the wooden pieces, designed to bring the outdoors indoors. The roof was prefabricated in football field-sized sections at the west end of the runways. Most of McKinstry’s work in this part of the project was executed during the prefabrication stage. Also overhead in the terminal, passengers will see hanging planters filled with ivy. The 32-foot-long, 800-pound steel structures were prefabricated in McKinstry’s Seattle shop before installation at PDX. On a similar decorative front, more than two dozen live trees help bring a natural feel into the airport. McKinstry installed the cast aluminum grates that surround the tree bases.

Stainless steel metal paneling is prominent throughout the terminal. From the jambs on the concession and restroom walls to the endless feet of base trim touching the floors, Portland International Airport wanted a seamless look. To achieve this, the Architectural Metals team surveyed the floor every two feet to taper each piece, cut them precisely and install them in just the right place. Each piece is unique to its location.

One thousand feet of stainless steel guardrails and handrails guide passengers around the airport, including up and down the main stadium seating area stairs. Partnering with supplier Levolux, the architectural metals team played a key role in the decorative extruded fins that float in front of two massive LED screens upstairs. Standing 25 feet tall and weighing 50 pounds each, several pieces come together to add a textural element that changes the visibility of the screens depending on the viewing angle. These extruded aluminum fins have a faux wood finish, designed to look like the real wood installed around the airport. Levolux was also a partner on the 29,000 square feet of interior sunshades. The sunshades feature a vertical extruded aluminum tube design, suspended from the ceiling. These tubes have the same faux wood grain finish as the LED fins, creating a cohesive look with the ceiling’s wood timbers.

Minority-owned business Just Right Heating and Cooling was brought in as a McKinstry partner to help with procurement and installation for the interior sunshade project, contributing significantly to the entire process.

The McKinstry team performed an equal amount of amazing architectural metals work outside. It includes tens of thousands of square feet of composite metal fins/panels and roll formed siding that intermix with glazing and expansion joints and another 11,000 square feet of sunshades made by Ohio Grating that cantilever and wave at the roofline. McKinstry crews had to use a crane to hang each one of the several hundred pound 7’ x 10’ pieces of sunshade.

The airport has remained fully operational during construction, thanks to meticulous planning by all parties involved. Materials and workers navigate busy areas without disturbing passengers or airport operations. The project is following a phased approach, keeping certain areas open for security and passenger access while construction continues. The intricate logistical planning ensures the airport functions smoothly amid significant construction work.

While the work has been going on for several years, it is not done yet. McKinstry’s Phase One work started in 2021 and wrapped up in mid-2024. Phase Two is underway now and is set for completion in early 2026.

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