2024 ACEC Oregon Project of the Year Award Winner

GRI is excited to be a part of the project team for the Port of Portland’s Parking Addition and Consolidated Rental Car (PACR) Facility, which was awarded the ACEC Project of the Year! Congratulations to the Port of Portland, KPFF Consulting Engineers, YGH Architecture, JE Dunn, AKS Engineering & Forestry, PAE Engineering, DKS Associates, and Mayer/Reed!

The PACR was designed and constructed to create an enhanced travel experience for the public through the streamlining of rental car services, increased safety on site, and a hassle-free experience when traveling through Portland International Airport (PDX). GRI provided geotechnical-, pavement-, and seismic-related engineering services to the Port of Portland for this project that is home to four major components sprawling 26 acres: a six-level parking structure, a four-story airport operation building with retail rental car center on the ground floor, a new exit toll plaza, and a connection from the south tunnel to the new rental car center and office building.

The design and construction of PACR included overcoming many challenges at the site, including dewatering, seismicity concerns, tight quarters, and large scope and schedule changes. GRI and KPFF collaborated with the design and construction team to ensure that PACR was to remain Operational following a catastrophic seismic event, while also keeping the focus of the project on tenants and travelers to ensure that their journey through PACR was as equally enjoyable as their time spent within the terminal.

The team brought PACR to life using many innovative engineering techniques at the site. The design team relied on a blast liquefaction study at the Port of Portland that was utilized to help determine site characteristics and foundation loads, GRI’s expertise surrounding deep liquefaction, seismic modeling, and ground improvement at the PACR site.

This state-of-the-art facility not only streamlines the process of parking and renting a car but also significantly improves overall accessibility. With its modern design, ample parking spaces, and efficient rental car services, PDX has made it more convenient for travelers to navigate the airport, minimizing the stress often associated with air travel. Such investments enable PDX to consistently rank among the best airports to travel through year after year, demonstrating a commitment to ensuring passengers have a positive and hassle-free experience while passing through its gates.

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