To meet the exploding demand for travel through Central Oregon’s primary airport, a $180M terminal expansion is underway to double capacity at Redmond Municipal Airport. Reflecting and responding to the region’s dramatic landscape and distinct character, the design celebrates the natural beauty that draws residents and visitors alike. The expanded airport creates a welcoming sense of place and a calm, comfortable environment that elevates the passenger experience.

RDM’s location in the high desert offers stunning views for miles, which drove the use of a full curtainwall envelope — expansive windows frame the Cascade Mountain Range, dramatic volcanic outcroppings, and rugged sagebrush and juniper plains. A carefully calibrated daylighting strategy balances natural light with glare control and thermal comfort. The exterior features a distinct Cascade mountains motif created by solar shade fins, which are central to the design: they not only enforce the regional identity but mitigate against the inherent challenges of extensive glass. In addition to the fins and standard gate backwalls, perforated solar screens protect agent workstations from the most intense sun. Natural forms continue in the floor terrazzo with a geographic pattern of the Deschutes River, accentuated with subtle color variation that represents the water’s depth and flow. Mass timber in the roof and ceiling structure brings warmth to the terminal.

Rather than reacting to growth, the design anticipates it — providing an adaptable framework that protects today’s investment while enabling confident, uninterrupted growth. The current expansion adds more than 80,000 square feet to one end of the existing terminal, including a new second-level concourse with seven boarding bridges, greatly expanded holdrooms, and in-demand seating and concessions. To set RDM up for future expansion in the other direction, the layout is intentionally simple, streamlining movement between old and new and allowing for easy build-out of systems.

Designed in partnership by Hennebery Eddy Architects and RS&H and constructed by Skanska, the expansion will improve performance and reshape expectations for regional airports. Passengers can look forward to a much larger airport that feels intuitive and inviting yet preserves the convenience they value at RDM, transforming travel into a memorable experience. Construction is expected to be completed by early 2028.

Architecture: Hennebery Eddy Architects & RS&H
CMGC: Skanska USA
Civil Engineer: Morrison-Maierle
Structural Engineer: Morrison-Maierle
MEP Engineer: Morrison-Maierle
Public Address/Acoustics: Avant Acoustics
Signage/Wayfinding: Mayer/Reed
LEED/Sustainability: Group 14 Engineering
Solar/Sustainability: OurEnergy
Baggage Handling: BNP Associates
Cost Estimating: Construction Focus, Inc.