Perkins&Will maps out Langley vertiport concept for future air mobility

Perkins&Will unveiled a phased vertiport concept for Langley Regional Airport in British Columbia that is meant to help existing airports prepare for Advanced Air Mobility operations. The plan links modular aviation infrastructure with a commercial campus, aiming to support future passenger service, cargo, and regional economic growth.

Why it matters: - The Langley Regional Airport concept is meant to show how Canadian airports can prepare for electric aircraft and next-generation aviation. - The plan ties Advanced Air Mobility infrastructure to regional connectivity, economic development, and long-term operational readiness. - The concept treats the vertiport as part of a wider transportation network, not a stand-alone facility.

What happened: - Perkins&Will unveiled an Advanced Air Mobility vertiport concept for Langley Regional Airport in British Columbia, Canada. - The concept presents a phased roadmap for integrating passenger and cargo Advanced Air Mobility services into airport capital planning. - The design also proposes a landside commercial campus to support regional business activity. - Canadian Advanced Air Mobility Executive Director JR Hammond and Perkins&Will Transportation Design Director Jeff Doble commented on the project.

The details: - The concept uses modular planning and prefabricated construction so the facility can expand as operational needs grow. - The vertiport design is compact and intended to work in existing airports, regional transportation hubs, rural communities, and remote locations. - Mass timber structural components and finishes are part of the design. - The passenger environment is intended to feel welcoming and familiar while supporting sustainability and construction efficiency. - The landside commercial campus is intended to create opportunities for employment, investment, and economic activity. - Langley is one of British Columbia’s fastest-growing municipalities. - Perkins&Will’s Vancouver studio has more than 20 years of transportation design work in Canada. - The studio’s portfolio includes SkyTrain stations on the Millennium and Canada Lines and the Surrey-Langley extension. - Perkins&Will also recently completed work on Montréal’s Réseau express métropolitain in joint venture with Lemay and Bisson Fortin. - Perkins&Will’s website is www.perkinswill.com. - CAAM’s website is canadianaam.com. - Perkins&Will’s LinkedIn page is Perkins&Will on LinkedIn. - Perkins&Will’s Instagram page is Perkins&Will Vancouver on Instagram.

Between the lines: - The concept reflects a push to make Advanced Air Mobility practical by pairing airport planning with real estate and commercial development. - The phased approach suggests airports may adopt AAM infrastructure gradually, matching investment to market demand. - The emphasis on modularity and mass timber signals a design strategy focused on flexibility, speed, and community fit rather than a one-off showcase project.

What's next: - The concept can inform future planning at Langley Regional Airport as Advanced Air Mobility market conditions develop. - The phased framework gives airport planners a path to align infrastructure spending with passenger demand and operational readiness. - CAAM said adaptable designs like the Langley vertiport can help build a Canadian network linking urban, regional, rural, northern, and remote communities.

The bottom line: - Perkins&Will is trying to turn Advanced Air Mobility from a concept into an airport-ready planning model for Canada.