Joseph Rose/The Oregonian

Say goodbye to the 'iconic' PDX carpet -- and hello to the new design

In a couple weeks, Port of Portland workers will start ripping up the iconic bright green carpet that Portland International Airport travelers have associated with landing in the city since 1987. This is an ode to the worn but "classic" rug (pieces of which you'll be able to buy in a few months) and an introduction to the new design.

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Cabell Tice on Instagram/Cabell Tice Photography

Carpet selfies: A rite of passage

If PDX is the "front door" to the city, the 1980s-era carpet is the doormat. For many air travelers, the airport's 27-year-old carpet is as Portland as Voodoo Doughnuts, Powell's Books and the Portlandia statue. In fact, social media is swamped with selfie snapshots of travelers' feet on the one-of-a-kind carpet. Instagram alone features more than 25,600 "PDX Carpet" travel photos.

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A photo posted by PDXcarpet (@pdxcarpet) on Jan 1, 2015 at 10:14pm PST

PDX carpet ink

For others, the emotional attachment to the carpet is more permanent.

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A photo posted by PDXcarpet (@pdxcarpet) on Dec 12, 2014 at 12:48pm PST

Someone went to the Rose Bowl

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Joseph Rose | The Oregonian/OregonLive

Do you know what the old design represents?

Most Portland metro area residents have probably walked on the carpet at some point, but not a lot of people know the story behind the geometrical design. Port of Portland spokesman Steve Johnson deciphered the pattern, which represents the symbols that air-traffic controllers see on their video terminals at night.

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Why is it iconic?

Mike Francis of The Oregonian/OregonLive tackled that question last year. It's just carpet, right? Actually, it has an Instagram outpost, at least two Facebook pages and its own Twitter account. Seriously. Ask most fans why they don't want to see the old design go away, they say it's an ineffable attachment; it's just part of coming home.

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Joseph Rose | The Oregonian/OregonLive

Cha-ching

At some point, local entrepreneurs saw dollar signs in the PDX carpet. While supplies last, you can buy everything from bike helmets and iPhone cases to socks and T-shirts featuring the design.

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@pdxcommute tear it up. It's ugly. Don't understand the attachment. — grimmer (@grimmerkimmer) January 6, 2015

'Tear it up'

Of course, the carpet also has its haters.

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Joseph Rose | The Oregonian/OregonLive

Meet the new PDX carpet

No, those aren't sail boats. Port of Portland spokesman Steve Johnson explains the symbols in the new carpet, including organic and man-made shapes found around the airport. You can walk on a sample of the carpet outside the main terminal's Made in Oregon store. So, can you see the airplane wings? Runways? Leaves? Trails? PDX's canopy? Waterways?

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Joseph Rose | The Oregonian/OregonLive

Installment plan

The new carpet was designed by Portland architecture firms ZGF Architecture and Hennebery Eddy. Emerick Construction Co. of Portland will spend the next 11 months replacing 13 acres of carpet at PDX. Most of the $13 million project will happen at night, Johnson said.

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Joseph Rose | The Oregonian/OregonLive

So what happens to the old carpet?

In an effort to keep the iconic carpet out of the landfill, the Port of Portland is lining up companies to sell salvagable remnants to the public. To learn how to purchase carpet leftovers, subscribe to 'PDX Carpet' news on the port's website. Of course, there are a few things you should know before buying (watch the video).

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Joseph Rose | The Oregonian/OregonLive

What do people think of the new design?

Alaska Airlines flight attendant Katy Dolan says the new carpet has its charms.

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Joseph Rose | The Oregonian/OregonLive

Another opinion

Recent Oregon State University graduate Alexandra Holmes, who was flying home to England on Jan. 6, 2015, wondered why PDX didn't just stick with the old design loved by so many travelers. Good point.

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Mixed reviews on Twitter

The good.

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Mixed reviews on Twitter

The bad.

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@pdxcommute @pdxcarpet It will take some getting used to. Wasn't what I expected to be honest, but it's not terrible. — Kip Kesgard (@kipkesgard) January 6, 2015

Mixed reviews on Twitter

The "meh."

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Mixed reviews on Twitter

The biased.

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Port of Portland

Get used to it

Hang in there, new PDX carpet design. You're expected to last as long as the old one. People will probably learn to love you. Who knows: In the future, you too may have your own Nikes and your own Facebook page -- or whatever social media evolves into 30 years from now.