September 2026 - SAME Portland Post Monthly Lunch Meeting

Lunch meeting:

Embassy Suites Portland

319 SW Pine St, Portland, OR 97204

• A 5-minute walk from MAX Oak Street or 6th & Pine Stations
• Parking is on-street metered parking or $7 Valet parking

11:30-12pm: Networking

12:00-1pm: Lunch/Speaker

Presentation:

PDX South Runway Seismic Resiliency and Risk Mitigation

At Portland International Airport (PDX), a strategic priority and technical challenge is ensuring that critical airfield infrastructure remains operational following a major Cascadia Subduction Zone. In this presentation, we walk through how the Port of Portland and GRI have approached this challenge from understanding risk at a system-wide level to advancing a practical, implementable solution.

We begin with the Port’s perspective, sharing how a comprehensive, port-wide seismic risk assessment has helped frame vulnerabilities across facilities and prioritize where investments matter most. This broader context sets the stage for focusing on the airfield, where performance expectations are particularly demanding.

From there, we shift into the technical evaluation of the north and south runways. We explore how subsurface conditions and seismic hazards, particularly liquefaction and lateral spreading, translate into operational risk, and why the south runway emerges as the critical focus. We then walk through the selected mitigation approach and, importantly, how GRI evaluated it. This includes the analytical methods used to assess performance while explicitly capturing uncertainty and risk, allowing for more confident decision-making in a highly variable geotechnical environment.

We conclude with an update from the Port on where the project stands today, including progress with the ongoing effort to position the South Runway program for future funding.

Overall, this presentation highlights the value of connecting risk-informed planning with practical engineering solutions to strengthen resilience and maintain continuity of operations at PDX.

Speakers:

Jason Bock, GRI: As a Principal with GRI, Jason provides technical and managerial guidance over a broad range of projects and has 20+ years of experience with a variety of geotechnical engineering projects in Washington, Oregon, and California. His experience includes all phases of investigation, design, reporting, construction specifications, construction observation, and contract administration. Much of his experience has addressed seismic engineering and deep foundations for critical facilities including emergency preparedness centers, fire stations, hospitals, water- and electric-related infrastructure, and airports. As a Principal with GRI, Jason provides technical and managerial guidance over a broad range of projects and has 20+ years of experience with a variety of geotechnical engineering projects in Washington, Oregon, and California. His experience includes all phases of investigation, design, reporting, construction specifications, construction observation, and contract administration. Much of his experience has addressed seismic engineering and deep foundations for critical facilities including emergency preparedness centers, fire stations, hospitals, water- and electric-related infrastructure, and airports. Jason is pivotal in leading GRI’s seismic engineering initiatives and has worked on some of the industry's most challenging seismic projects.

Tom Wharton, Port of Portland: Tom serves as the Structural Engineer and Resiliency Engineer for the Port of Portland, where he plays a key role in advancing critical infrastructure projects. He is currently one of the lead engineers working on TCORE, shaping the future of Portland’s airport through innovative and resilient design.

Tom holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Portland State University and a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from University of Oregon. His multidisciplinary background supports a thoughtful approach to engineering, infrastructure resilience, and public service.

Outside of work, Tom enjoys travel, woodworking, and spending time with his family.