Roberta Aguirre
The Portland International Airport (PDX) carpet has become an iconic symbol of the city, with its original design featuring geometric shapes on a teal background, representing the intersection of the north and south runways seen by air traffic controllers. The carpet gained a cult following, with multiple social media accounts dedicated to it and its design appearing on various products. In 2015, the nearly 30-year-old carpet was replaced, sparking a frenzy among Portlanders and the media. However, in 2022, it was announced that the iconic carpet would be returning to the airport during renovations, and in 2024, the beloved teal carpet was installed in the new terminal.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of removal | January 2015 |
| Age at the time of removal | Nearly 30 years old |
| Original design | Geometric shapes on a teal background with blue, purple and red lines and dots |
| Original designer | SRG Partnership |
| Original installation date | Early 1990s |
| Replacement designer | Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects |
| Replacement installation date | November 2015 |
| Replacement design | Deeper green with a swishier pattern |
| Current status | Returning to the airport in 2024 |
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What You'll Learn
The original Portland Airport carpet
In 2013, the Port of Portland announced that the original carpet would be replaced with a new pattern designed by Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects, sparking a social media frenzy and gaining attention from local and national news outlets. The removal of the nearly 30-year-old carpet began in January 2015, with businesses and members of the community eager to acquire pieces of the iconic floor covering. The replacement carpet featured a darker green background and a swishier pattern, but it was not as well-loved as the original.
The Portland Airport carpet has become a symbol of the city's history and identity, with many residents and visitors cherishing its unique design and the sense of community it helped foster. Its removal and replacement sparked a range of emotions, from nostalgia for the old design to excitement about the updated version. The carpet's impact on the city and its residents is a testament to the power of design to inspire and connect people, even in unexpected ways.
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The cult following of the carpet
Portland International Airport's (PDX)'s carpet has become an iconic symbol of the city, with a dedicated following on social media and even its own Instagram hashtag, #pdxcarpet, which has over 20,000 pictures. The carpet, with its geometric shapes on a teal background, was originally installed in the late 1980s and represented the intersection of the north and south runways seen by air traffic controllers from the airport tower at night.
The unique design proved popular, and its pattern was used on various products, including bicycle helmets, socks, and T-shirts. It even inspired a poem, "Ode on a Carpet", published in Portland Monthly in 2013. The carpet's fame extended beyond social media, with Portland's NBA team, the Trail Blazers, paying homage to the design with a colourway on their sneakers and uniforms.
When the airport announced the carpet's replacement in 2013, it sparked a social media frenzy and gained attention from the media. The removal of the carpet in 2015 attracted a crowd of airport employees and the media, showcasing the emotional connection people had formed with this unique design. The replacement carpet, with a darker green base, failed to capture the hearts of Portlanders, who continued to cherish the original design.
The obsession with the old carpet continued, with businesses turning the removed carpet into frameable squares, floor mats, and even carpet-covered ottomans. The public's enthusiasm for these products was remarkable, with people lining up to purchase a piece of PDX history. This cult following for the carpet extended beyond Portland, with a bar in Tokyo displaying a framed piece of the iconic carpet on its wall.
Recognising the community's love for the original design, the Port of Portland announced in 2022 that the iconic carpet would be returning to the airport during renovations. The new terminal, which opened in 2024, features sections of the beloved teal carpet in seating areas before security, allowing visitors to once again take their iconic airport carpet selfies.
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Removal of the carpet
The removal of the Portland Airport carpet began in January 2015, with the replacement of the carpet being a highly anticipated event. The original carpet, designed by SRG Partnership in 1987, featured geometric shapes on a teal background with blue, purple and red lines and dots, representing the intersection of the north and south runways seen by air traffic controllers from the airport tower at night.
The removal process began with a crowd of airport employees and media in attendance, with the Port of Portland's chief operating officer sharing their sentiments on the change, acknowledging the community's love for the iconic carpet design. The worn portions of the old carpet were recycled, and the remaining pieces were made available for sale by local retail vendors, with businesses able to request 1,000 square yards of the old carpet.
The removal of the carpet sparked a frenzy, with four area businesses winning contracts to take the old carpet for free, provided they paid for transport and made it available to the community. One such business, Carpet Mill Outlet, turned the carpet into frameable one-foot squares and two-by-three-foot floor mats, which sold out quickly. The popularity of the carpet design even led to it being featured on various products, including a Portland Trail Blazers basketball jersey and an Adidas sneaker colourway.
The replacement carpet, designed by Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects, features a deeper green colour and a swishier pattern, developed in collaboration with Portland architecture firms ZGF Architects and Hennebery Eddy. While the new design is reminiscent of the original, it was met with mixed reactions, with some Portland residents expressing their nostalgia for the old carpet.
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The new carpet design
The replacement carpet was designed by the Portland-based firm Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects, now known as ZGF Architects, in collaboration with Hennebery Eddy Architects. The new design was intended to create a more modern and sleek look for the airport while still retaining some elements of the original carpet. The darker green background was chosen to give a sense of elegance and calm to the space, and the swishier pattern added movement and fluidity to the design.
One of the main considerations for the new carpet was its functionality and practicality. The previous carpet had gained a cult following, with airport visitors often taking pictures of their feet on the distinctive design. However, over time, the carpet became worn and stained, leading to the need for a more durable and low-maintenance replacement. The new carpet's darker background and speckled design with golds and blues helped to hide spills and stains, ensuring the airport always looked presentable and well-maintained.
While the new carpet design initially received mixed reviews, with some preferring the iconic original, it has grown on people over time. The new design still retains a sense of familiarity and connection to the city of Portland, with its geometric patterns and subtle nods to the previous carpet. Additionally, the new carpet has been praised for its improved functionality and ease of maintenance, ensuring a more pleasant and practical experience for travellers and airport staff.
The installation of the new carpet at PDX is a reminder that change is inevitable, even for beloved features like the original carpet. While it may take time for some to adjust to new designs, it is essential to balance nostalgia with the need for improvement and modernisation. The new carpet at Portland International Airport successfully combines a respect for the past with a vision for the future, creating a warm and welcoming gateway to the city.
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The return of the original carpet
Portland International Airport's (PDX)' original carpet, featuring geometric shapes on a teal background, has become an iconic symbol of the city. The carpet was designed by SRG Partnership in 1987 and installed in the airport in the early 1990s. Over time, it gained a cult following, with multiple social media accounts dedicated to it and even inspiring a poem published in Portland Monthly in 2013. The unique design, representing the intersection of the north and south runways seen by air traffic controllers, struck a chord with Portlanders and became a source of local pride.
In 2013, the Port of Portland announced plans to replace the beloved carpet, sparking a social media frenzy and attracting national attention. Despite the new carpet's similar design, the removal of the original carpet in January 2015 marked the end of an era. The old carpet, with its "heady '80s design," became a city-wide obsession, with pieces being sold at various stores and its trademark lines and dots appearing on clothing and other merchandise.
However, the story doesn't end there. In February 2022, it was announced that the iconic original carpet would be returning to the airport as part of renovations to the main terminal. The announcement was met with enthusiasm, with many Portlanders expressing their deep connection to the design. The new terminal, which opened in August 2024, features about 6,000 square feet of the recreated teal carpet in seating areas before security.
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Frequently asked questions
The airport decided to change its carpet as part of a renovation project. The original carpet was nearly 30 years old and had gained a cult following, with many Portland residents and airport visitors becoming fond of its unique design.
The original carpet featured geometric shapes on a teal background, with blue, purple and red lines and dots. It was designed to represent the intersection of the north and south runways seen by air traffic controllers at night.
The removal of the original carpet began in January 2015, and the installation of the new carpet was scheduled to be completed by November 2015. However, there were delays in the construction of the new terminal, and the new carpet was finally installed in 2024.
