PORTLAND, Ore. - Portland International Airport (PDX) could be incorporating a new, eco-friendly wood products technology in its $1.3 billion, five-year expansion.

 

Cross laminated timber (CLT) has already been used for a 12-story building in Portland’s Pearl District which is made primarily from huge laminated wood floor and wall panels, beams, and posts.

 

Portland mayor, Ted Wheeler, says the use of mass timber in the expansion could many jobs, as reported by Koin 6 news.

 

Mass timbers, which include laminated wood floor panels, support beams, and posts, are being considered as prominent design elements in the renovation of the core terminal area at PDX.

 

According to Bill Browning, the founder of the Terrapin Bright Green design firm looking at the airport redesign, CLT is comparable to steel and concrete, and is more environmentally friendly.

 

No final design decisions have been made yet, but some studies suggest that using CLT in the renovation could add anywhere from $338 million to over $1 billion annually to Oregon's economy.