Portland International Airport can now welcome travelers with audio from Renkus-Heinz. Integrated into technology poles, Iconyx Compact loudspeakers bring audio to PDX’s modern terminal.
The latest modernisation project, part of the PDX Next initiative, reimagines the airport experience, blending technology with architectural design. Central to this transformation is the installation of Renkus-Heinz’s Iconyx Compact ICC12/3 loudspeakers, which deliver audio clarity while integrating into the airport’s aesthetic.
The PDX Next initiative is a multi-phase effort to expand and modernise the airport. The main terminal’s overhaul serves as the centrepiece of this vision. Designed with an emphasis on openness and natural elements, the new terminal features soaring wooden ceilings, abundant daylight, and locally sourced materials, all reflecting Oregon’s outdoor ethos.
However, the open-concept design presented significant challenges for audio design. Without conventional walls or ceilings to house traditional sound systems, the project team had to find a way to meet the airport’s stringent requirements for coverage, clarity, and aesthetic integration. PAE – a firm involved in the project since 2013 – collaborated with the global engineering consultancy Arup to address these challenges.
“The biggest challenge was the lack of walls or ceilings to mount equipment,” explains Ryan Lalum, Senior Associate at PAE. “The open design of the terminal was intended to mimic the outdoors, with no traditional infrastructure to conceal speakers. This required us to develop an innovative solution: the Integrated Technology Poles.”
The Integrated Technology Poles, custom-designed for the project, are modular structures housing multiple technologies. In addition to the Renkus-Heinz loudspeakers, the poles incorporate fire alarm coverage, cameras, lighting, Wi-Fi access points, and more. Each pole was manufactured from 100% metal and designed to be rotatable for precise alignment. “Every access point and coverage area was modelled in the design phase to ensure seamless installation on-site,” Lalum notes.
Pre-fabricated off-site, the poles were delivered fully assembled, allowing for efficient installation with minimal disruption.
The system provides 100% coverage throughout the terminal, delivering crisp, intelligible audio for paging announcements, wayfinding, and general communications.