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Greetings, friends! As more vaccinated travelers take to the skies, some of us are returning to PDX for the first time since the pandemic started. And yes, quite a lot has changed. Last month, we chatted with several architects at ZGF, who are behind the newly unveiled airport designs. But it’ll be quite the journey to make that vision a reality, a journey that will touch a lot of different people. For this issue, we home in on another perspective: what your first trip through the airport might feel like as we enter the challenging phases of construction.

Plenty of the folks here at PDX are visual thinkers. And thanks to the local creative community, we’re telling the construction story in a way we haven’t seen before — a comic strip highlighting an everyday adventure through the airport, including some fun facts along the way. After you’ve had some time to enjoy all 10 panels, we’ll introduce you to the illustrator, show off a recently installed mural and answer one of your questions.

Travel Safe at PDX: If you need to visit us anytime soon, please check out the latest health and safety updates.

An airport construction adventure

The next time you head to PDX, things will look a little different. Temporary walls have closed off parts of the main terminal, and we've installed detours to help you get around the construction that's currently underway. It might take you a second to get your bearings — especially if you have a comfortable books-then-doughnuts routine.

That's the setup to the latest comic from Oregon-based artist Aki Ruiz, who tells the story of a few travelers making their way through PDX in the not-so-distant future. (See our profile of Aki below.) Scroll on to see how our friends discover what's going on behind the scenes.

An illustrated comic shows a person named Ash at a ticket kiosk, with their service dog, Poppy, sitting beside them. The caption reads “PDX, in the not so distant future.” Poppy the dog narrates, “It had been some time since my human and I had last visited this place. I could already smell change in the air.”

Ash and Poppy stand in front of a temporary construction wall that’s closed off parts of the main terminal. Ash says, “Huh? I guess that’s goodbye to our books and doughnut routine, Poppy.” Poppy the dog narrates, “Usually, my human and I go to the book place before we go see the people who borrow their shoes, but today was different.”

While they’re waiting to go through airport security, an elderly woman talks to Ash: “Oh dear, I miss those doughnuts, too. But on the bright side, they’re making this place more spacious and even easier to get around. Did you hear about the new roof?” Poppy narrates, “The lady behind us told us a long story about how the old roof was made in the 1950s, the age of my great great great grandfather, Colonel Woof II.”

Yes, there’s more to this story. Find out what happens next.

Keep reading

Meet the maker: Aki Ruiz

There’s a lot of storytelling potential behind projects as challenging and multifaceted as the work currently underway on the new main terminal. That’s according to Portland-based artist Aki Ruiz, who took inspiration from architectural models and blueprints for his newest work.

We recently chatted with Aki about his creative process and how he got into his craft. He decided to show us his studio in an unexpected way: by illustrating his workspace and sharing some early sketches from the story’s development. Check out this Q&A with the artist.

An illustrated self-portrait of the artist working at his desk

Murals going up

In case you missed it: In May, we asked a few local creatives to post giant sticky notes on the airport’s construction walls. It’s because we know detours aren’t fun. Maybe the roller-skating cloud will give you a little chuckle. 🛼☁️😉

Check in with us, as we’ll be sharing some of the new art as it’s spotted at PDX. Visiting us soon? If you’re passing through and you see any of these loveable critters, tag your post with #PDXNext.

One mural going up on the airport's construction walls looks like a colorful garden, with smiling flowers and bees, butterflies and a cloud hugging a balloon

You ask, we answer

Question: I’m traveling with a service dog. Any advice for navigating these construction changes?

Answer: Even in the best of times, we know traveling with a service animal comes with a few extra challenges. (In fact, the creators of the illustrated story above consulted with several guide dog trainers to make sure it reflected the real relationships between travelers and their helpers.) With that in mind, we’re here to confirm that we have two new indoor pet relief areas at PDX: one on Concourse C near gate C4 and one on Concourse D near gate D4. We also have two new outdoor pet relief areas located at the north and south ends of the lower roadway (arrivals level).

For more, go to the frequently updated construction hub on FlyPDX.com, where you’ll find practical info for your next trip. And visit FlyPDX.com/Accessibility for a comprehensive list of accessibility resources.

Got something on your mind? Send us your questions (hello@pdxnext.com) and we’ll do our best to get you answers. We'll share the most-asked questions here.

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