For more than 40 years, PAE has partnered with the Port of Portland to help shape the systems behind Portland International Airport. With the completion of the airport's transformed main terminal, that partnership reaches another significant milestone.

Over more than a decade of planning, design, and construction, PAE worked alongside the Port of Portland, ZGF, KPFF, Hoffman-Skanska, trade partners, and the broader project team to help deliver a terminal engineered for the Pacific Northwest and built for the future.

As the engineer of record for the terminal's mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and technology systems, PAE helped develop integrated building systems that support the airport's long-term goals for resilience, sustainability, and operational performance. A centerpiece of that work will be the new ground source heat pump upgrade to the central utility plant—the single largest contributor to achieving the Port's energy and carbon reduction goals for the terminal. Together with high-performance building systems, the completed terminal doubles passenger capacity, expands the airport by 25%, and is designed to reduce energy intensity by 50% while supporting the Port's long-term vision for a more resilient, low-carbon airport.

One of the project's greatest engineering achievements was delivering these improvements while PDX remained fully operational. Throughout construction, the team carefully phased new infrastructure to maintain heating, cooling, power, communications, life safety, and passenger comfort, all while preparing the airport for decades of future growth. Advanced seismic resilience features, future-ready electrical infrastructure, and integrated building systems strengthen the airport's ability to serve the region through everyday operations and future challenges alike.

While construction is now complete, our work continues. PAE remains engaged with the Port of Portland, supporting the team as the airport transitions into operations and helping ensure the airport's building systems operate as designed. We're proud to have contributed our mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and technology expertise to a project that reflects decades of partnership and will serve travelers, the region, and future generations for years to come.