Portland Airport Terminal Core Digital Wall

Concept Design

Partnered with ZGF during the concept phase for a 123-foot-wide media installation in the new PDX Airport Terminal, exploring how digital media could become part of the architecture itself.

Client

ZGF Architecture, Port of Portland

Team

Gallagher & Associates

Role

Visual Designer

Focus

During the discovery workshop, the ZGF and G&A teams explored narrative directions, physical forms, and dynamic programming opportunities. 
I led the visual and dynamic media sessions, shaping the concepts that followed.

During the discovery workshop, the ZGF and G&A teams explored narrative directions, physical forms, and dynamic programming opportunities. 
I led the visual and dynamic media sessions, shaping the concepts that followed.

Guiding principles

Guiding principles

Concept 1: Bird Murmuration

Inspired by bird murmurations in the Pacific Northwest, the concept creates a dynamic, data-driven media experience that responds to time of day and passenger activity. 

Concept 1: Bird Murmuration

Inspired by bird murmurations in the Pacific Northwest, the concept creates a dynamic, data-driven media experience that responds to time of day and passenger activity. 

Discovered that reflections from the wood created a soft veil over the screen, helping it blend into the airport’s nature-inspired ambience.

Concept 2: Waterfalls 
Inspired by Oregon’s waterfalls, the concept translates changing data into cascading patterns of light and motion, bringing a sense of natural movement into the terminal.

Concept 2: Waterfalls 
Inspired by Oregon’s waterfalls, the concept translates changing data into cascading patterns of light and motion, bringing a sense of natural movement into the terminal.

Evaluated the 123-foot-wide media wall at true scale—from close-up mezzanine views to distant security checkpoints, across day/night conditions and varying ambient light

Evaluated the 123-foot-wide media wall at true scale—from close-up mezzanine views to distant security checkpoints, across day/night conditions and varying ambient light

Full-Scale Mock-up at the Airport Hanger

Full-Scale Mock-up at the Airport Hanger

The realized installation carries forward the core concept of weaving digital media into the architecture, integrating the display with the physical louvers to create a unified spatial experience

The realized installation carries forward the core concept of weaving digital media into the architecture, integrating the display with the physical louvers to create a unified spatial experience

The soft veil effect also became part of the realized experience

The soft veil effect also became part of the realized experience