Portland International Airport carpet

Last updated

Portland International Airport's carpet design in December 2014 PDX Carpet.jpg
Portland International Airport's carpet design in December 2014

Portland International Airport (PDX) features an iconic carpet. Situated in Portland, Oregon, the carpet featured geometric shapes on a teal background, representing the intersection of the north and south runways seen by air traffic controllers from the airport's tower at night. The carpet's design proved popular, and is referenced and discussed in other media.

Contents

SRG Partnership designed the carpet in 1987, and it was installed throughout Portland International Airport in the early 1990s. In 2013, the Port of Portland announced the carpet's replacement with a new pattern conceptualized by the Portland-based firm Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects. The announcement generated a social media "phenomenon" and gained attention from local and national news outlets. Removal of the original carpet began in January 2015, with the airport recycling worn portions and making remaining pieces available for sale by local retail vendors. In February 2022, it was announced that the iconic carpet would be returning to the airport when renovations to the main terminal are completed in 2024. [1] [2] The renovated terminal opened on August 15, 2024. [3]

The carpet has been referenced by Portland's NBA basketball team, the Portland Trail Blazers. In 2015, point guard Damian Lillard released his first PDX carpet colorway on the Adidas D Lillard 1 sneaker. [4] In 2016, Lillard released the colorway on the D Lillard 2, [5] also inspired by the carpet. In November 2022, the Trail Blazers introduced their City Edition uniforms. The uniform pays homage to the airport carpet with a sash design that mimics the geometric pattern of the carpet. [6]

Background

The original carpet, pictured at Concourse D in 2007, was designed by SRG Architects in 1987. Portland International Airport Concourse D - Oregon.JPG
The original carpet, pictured at Concourse D in 2007, was designed by SRG Architects in 1987.

To reduce the amount of noise created by people walking across hard terminal floors, the Port of Portland contracted SRG Partnership to design new carpeting for Portland International Airport (PDX) in 1987. The SRG principal and co-designer of the carpet, John Schleuning, visited several airports before deciding what to create for the carpet at PDX. SRG steered away from the earth tones traditionally used by airports in the 1980s, incorporating blue and green into their design early on and hoping to evoke "northwest to the core". [7] Its pattern featured geometric shapes on a teal background, [8] an abstract depiction of the intersecting north and south runways seen by air traffic controllers from the airport's tower at night. [7] [9] [10] Several acres of the carpet were installed by the early 1990s. [7]

Over time, the carpet gained a cult following. Multiple social media accounts were dedicated to it and more than 20,000 pictures were posted to its official Instagram hashtag, #pdxcarpet. [9] Airport visitors often took pictures of their feet on the carpet. [10]

The original carpet design received a positive reception by Portland residents and airport visitors, eventually reaching "local icon" status. [9] Its pattern was used on a variety of products, including bicycle helmets, socks and T-shirts. [9] In 2013, Portland Monthly published "Ode on a Carpet", a poem inspired by T. S. Eliot's "The Hollow Men" (1925). [9] [11] In September 2014, PDX installed an 11 ft × 16 ft (3.4 m × 4.9 m) collage made of the carpet. [9]

Replacement and return

Old (left) and new (right) carpet designs Portland International Airport carpet, 2015.JPG
Old (left) and new (right) carpet designs
Portland International Airport's carpet design in 2024 PDX new carpet with feet.jpg
Portland International Airport's carpet design in 2024

A $13 million replacement [12] of the airport's carpet was announced in 2013, sparking social media attention that was picked up by local and national media outlets. [10] The Port of Portland received a large number of comments from local residents who were concerned about the original carpet's future. Annie Linstrom, a spokesperson for the port district, confirmed they were investigating recycling options and considering giving away portions to locals as keepsakes. [7] [9] She also said that the Port of Portland "understand[s] that people have an emotional connection to the carpet". [7] In December 2013, Portland Monthly published a preview of the redesign, which was conceptualized by Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects of Portland. The magazine reported that the new design included "mood-enhancing colors and a new repeating pattern, while clearly preserving key elements" from the original carpet. [8] Linstrom said, "The Port hopes that travelers will grow to appreciate elements of the new carpet design over time, just as much as the old." [8]

In January 2015, removal of the nearly-30-year-old carpet began in front of a crowd of airport employees and media. The Port of Portland's chief operating officer said: "Normally we do these ribbon cuttings when we’re introducing a new thing, but it’s actually the reverse of that in removing the old carpet. We’re going to miss the carpet and we appreciate the community and the love of this carpet." [10] Any businesses that were able to receive, stockpile, and redistribute carpet could request 1,000 square yards (840 m2) from the Port of Portland. [9] [10]

[8] [9] [10] According to Oregon Public Broadcasting, the old and new carpet designs are similar in appearance "to the untrained, out-of-towner eye". [10] Installation was scheduled to continue through November 2015. [10] Local firm Hennebery Eddy Architects is overseeing its installation, having been contracted in June 2013 to select materials and manage logistics. [8] The new carpet is made of materials from recycled carpet and plastic bottles and jars. [9]

In February 2022, it was announced that the iconic carpet would be returning to the airport after the terminal was remodeled. On August 14, 2024, the remodeled terminal opened with the carpet featured in certain areas of the terminal. [13] [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portland Trail Blazers</span> National Basketball Association team in Portland, Oregon

The Portland Trail Blazers are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. The Trail Blazers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference. The team played its home games in the Memorial Coliseum before moving to the Moda Center in 1995. The franchise entered the league as an expansion team in 1970, and has enjoyed a strong following: from 1977 through 1995, the team sold out 814 consecutive home games, the longest such streak in American major professional sports at the time, and which has only since been surpassed by the Boston Red Sox and the Dallas Mavericks. The Trail Blazers are the only NBA team based in the Pacific Northwest, after the Vancouver Grizzlies relocated to Memphis and became the Memphis Grizzlies in 2001 and the Seattle SuperSonics relocated to Oklahoma City and became the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portland International Airport</span> Largest airport of the U.S. state of Oregon

Portland International Airport is a joint civil–military airport and the largest airport in the U.S. state of Oregon, accounting for 90% of the state's passenger air travel and more than 95% of its air cargo. It is within Portland's city limits just south of the Columbia River in Multnomah County, 6 miles by air and 12 mi (19 km) by highway northeast of downtown Portland. Portland International Airport is often referred to by its IATA airport code, PDX. The airport covers 3,000 acres of land.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nashville International Airport</span> Airport serving Nashville, Tennessee, United States

Nashville International Airport is a public/military airport in the southeastern section of Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Established in 1937, its original name was Berry Field, from which its ICAO and IATA identifiers are derived. The current terminal was built in 1987, and the airport took its current name in 1988. Nashville International Airport has four runways and covers 4,555 acres (1,843 ha) of land. It is the busiest airport in Tennessee, with more boardings and arrivals than all other airports in the state combined.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air Jordan</span> American brand by Nike

Air Jordan is a line of basketball shoes produced by Nike, Inc. Related apparel and accessories are marketed under Jordan Brand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port of Portland (Oregon)</span> Port in United States

The Port of Portland is the port district responsible for overseeing Portland International Airport, general aviation, and marine activities in the Portland, Oregon, metropolitan area in the United States. Originally established in 1891 by the 16th Oregon Legislative Assembly, the current incarnation was created by the 1970 legislature, combining the original Port with the Portland Commission of Public Docks, a city agency dating from 1910.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MAX Red Line</span> Light rail line in Portland, Oregon

The MAX Red Line is a light rail line serving the Portland metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Oregon. Operated by TriMet as part of the MAX Light Rail system, it is an airport rail link connecting Hillsboro, Beaverton, Portland City Center, and Northeast Portland to Portland International Airport. The Red Line serves 37 stations; it interlines with the Blue Line and partially with the Green Line from Hillsboro Airport/Fairgrounds station to Gateway/Northeast 99th Avenue Transit Center and then branches off to Portland Airport station. Service runs for 22 hours per day with headways of up to 15 minutes. The Red Line carried an average 10,310 passengers per weekday in September 2021, the second-busiest after the Blue Line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portland Airport station</span> Light rail station in Portland, Oregon, United States

Portland Airport is a light rail station in Portland, Oregon, United States, served by TriMet as part of the MAX Light Rail system. Situated at Portland International Airport, it is the eastern terminus of the Red Line, which connects the airport, downtown Portland, and Beaverton. The station is located at the ground floor of the airport's main passenger terminal near the southern end of the arrivals hall and baggage claim area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portland–Troutdale Airport</span> Airport in Troutdale, Oregon

Troutdale Airport, also known as Troutdale-Portland Airport, is a corporate, general aviation, and flight-training airport serving the city of Troutdale, in Multnomah County, Oregon, United States. It is one of three airports in the Portland metropolitan area owned and operated by the Port of Portland. Troutdale Airport was established in 1920 as a private airfield, then purchased by the Port of Portland in 1942. It serves as a reliever airport for nearby Portland International Airport (PDX).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hillsboro Airport</span> Airport in Hillsboro, Oregon

Hillsboro Airport, also known as Portland–Hillsboro Airport, is a corporate, general aviation and flight-training airport serving the city of Hillsboro, in Washington County, Oregon, United States. It is one of three airports in the Portland, Oregon, metropolitan area owned and operated by the Port of Portland. Established in 1928, it is Oregon's second busiest airport at over 200,000 operations annually. HIO covers 900 acres and has three runways.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">McNary Field</span> Airport

McNary Field is in Marion County, Oregon, United States, two miles southeast of downtown Salem, which owns it. The airport is named for U.S. Senator Charles L. McNary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rogue Valley International–Medford Airport</span> Airport

Rogue Valley International–Medford Airport is an international, and public-use airport three miles north of downtown Medford, in Jackson County, Oregon, United States. Owned and operated by Jackson County's Aviation Authority, the airport serves southwest Oregon. Originally named Medford–Jackson County Airport, it was renamed to Rogue Valley International–Medford Airport after it became an international airport in 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southwest Oregon Regional Airport</span> Airport in North Bend, Oregon

Southwest Oregon Regional Airport, formerly North Bend Municipal Airport, is a public airport in North Bend, Coos County, Oregon, United States. It is operated by the Coos County Airport District. OTH covers 619 acres of land.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SeaPort Airlines</span> Defunct American airline

SeaPort Airlines was a US-based regional airline with its headquarters at Portland International Airport in Portland, Oregon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nike Blazer</span> Third shoe released by Nike

Nike Blazer is a sneaker manufactured by Nike. It was originally released in 1973 as a basketball shoe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Damian Lillard</span> American basketball player (born 1990)

Damian Lamonte Ollie Lillard Sr. is an American professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Regarded for his big shots in the clutch, he has been nicknamed "Dame Time". He played college basketball for the Weber State Wildcats and earned third-team All-American honors in 2012. He was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the sixth overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft, and was named the NBA Rookie of the Year for the 2012–13 season, and with the team, he made seven NBA All-Star and seven All-NBA Team selections.

There are several well-known and commonly used nicknames referring to Portland, Oregon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hawks PDX</span> Gay bathhouse in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Hawks PDX is a gay bathhouse located in Portland, Oregon's Hazelwood neighborhood, in the United States. Previously, the business operated in southeast Portland's Buckman neighborhood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Urban Plaza</span> Plaza on the Portland State University campus, in the U.S. state of Oregon

Urban Plaza, also known as the Urban Center Plaza, is a plaza on the Portland State University campus in Portland, Oregon, United States. It was designed by James Douglas "Doug" Macy and completed in March 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Country Cat</span> Restaurant in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

The Country Cat is a Southern restaurant in Portland, Oregon. The original restaurant operated in southeast Portland from 2007 to 2019, and a second location has operated at the Portland International Airport since 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PDX Sliders</span> Restaurant in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

PDX Sliders is a restaurant with three locations in Portland, Oregon.

References

  1. ↑ Johnson, Destiny (February 15, 2022). "PDX is getting its old carpet back and we can all rejoice". kgw.com. Archived from the original on February 23, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  2. ↑ Costello, Ian (February 14, 2022). "Iconic carpet returning to PDX in 2024". KOIN.com. Archived from the original on February 23, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Portland International Airport's new main terminal has opened. Here's what flyers can expect and other changes ahead". opb. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  4. ↑ Brettman, Allan (May 19, 2015). "D Lillard 1 sneaker, PDX Carpet edition, appears to be on the way". The Oregonian . Archived from the original on October 20, 2022. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  5. ↑ Schlemmer, Zack (June 8, 2016). "adidas D Lillard 2 PDX Carpet Release Date". Sneaker News. Archived from the original on October 9, 2016. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Portland Trail Blazers 22/23 City Edition Uniform: Uniquely Portland". nba.com. November 14, 2022. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Johnson, Cari (December 20, 2013). "A Brief History of the PDX Airport Carpet". Portland Monthly . Portland, Oregon: Sagacity Media. ISSN   1546-2765. Archived from the original on December 31, 2014. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Johnson, Cari (December 12, 2013). "A Peek at PDX Airport's New Carpet". Portland Monthly. Archived from the original on January 17, 2015. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Barney, Alicia (December 16, 2014). "In Portland, It's Curtains for an Airport Carpet". The New York Times . Archived from the original on January 7, 2015. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Duffy, Lizzy (January 23, 2015). "Portland International Airport Commemorates PDX Carpet With Ripping Ceremony". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on January 25, 2015. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Ode on a Carpet, by T.S.A. Eliot". Portland Monthly. December 2, 2013. Archived from the original on February 9, 2015. Retrieved January 26, 2015.
  12. ↑ Johnson, Steve (January 23, 2015). "PDXNext: Portland International Airport Improvements Planned" (PDF) (Press release). Port of Portland. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 11, 2015. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  13. ↑ Oregonian/OregonLive, Lizzy Acker | The (April 26, 2024). "PDX's beloved teal carpet installed in airport's new terminal". oregonlive. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Portland International Airport's new main terminal has opened. Here's what flyers can expect and other changes ahead". opb. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.