Perkins&Will Unveils Advanced Air Mobility Vertiport Vision for Langley Regional Airport

Modular, adaptable infrastructure concept provides a phased roadmap for integrating Advanced Air Mobility operations into regional airport networks.

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA, August 17, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Perkins&Will have unveiled an Advanced Air Mobility vertiport concept for Langley Regional Airport in British Columbia, Canada.

The concept demonstrates how existing Canadian airports can prepare for emerging electric and next-generation aircraft through phased development and adaptable infrastructure. It positions Langley Regional Airport as a future hub within a broader regional transportation network, supporting passenger connectivity, economic development, and the long-term integration of new aviation technologies.

Building on Perkins&Will’s decades of experience delivering transportation infrastructure solutions, the concept provides Langley Regional Airport with a roadmap for incorporating Advanced Air Mobility passenger and cargo services into its capital planning. The proposed development combines dedicated aviation facilities with a landside commercial campus intended to support regional business activity and economic growth.

To maximize these potential benefits, the Langley Regional Airport concept frames the vertiport as an integrated component of the existing transportation ecosystem rather than as a standalone facility. Through phased development, the airport can prepare for future operations while aligning infrastructure investment with market readiness and passenger demand.

“Canada has an opportunity to shape Advanced Air Mobility in a way that is safe, sustainable, practical, and connected to community needs,” said JR Hammond, Executive Director of Canadian Advanced Air Mobility. “Vertiport infrastructure is a critical part of that future. By bringing together design, planning, aviation, and regional connectivity expertise, Perkins&Will and Langley Regional Airport are helping demonstrate how AAM can move from concept to implementation in a way that supports equitable access, regional connectivity, and long-term economic resilience.”

The vertiport design leverages modular planning and prefabricated construction to create a facility that can expand as operational requirements develop. Its compact form is designed to be adaptable across a range of environments, including existing airports, regional transportation hubs, rural communities, and remote locations.

Mass timber structural components and finishes are incorporated to create a welcoming and familiar passenger environment. This approach combines flexibility and construction efficiency with a strong focus on passenger experience, sustainability, and compatibility with the surrounding community.

“The Langley Vertiport is a declaration of our studio’s commitment to thoughtful, economic, and functional design,” said Adrian Watson, Design Director at Perkins&Will. “It is a continuation of our values-based approach, which brings together regenerative design, innovation, craft, and positive human experience.”

The landside commercial campus proposed in the concept would complement future passenger operations and create additional opportunities for employment, investment, and economic activity. This approach recognizes that AAM facilities can serve not only as aviation infrastructure, but also as catalysts for regional development.

Langley is one of British Columbia’s fastest-growing municipalities. Strengthening the airport’s role within the regional transportation network could create new connections between communities, employment centres, healthcare services, logistics networks, and other transportation systems.

Perkins&Will’s transportation portfolio includes more than 20 years of work by its Vancouver studio designing major Canadian transit facilities intended to improve connectivity and strengthen the communities they serve.

Their work includes SkyTrain stations across Metro Vancouver on the Millennium and Canada Lines as well as the Surrey-Langley extension. In Montréal, they recently completed work on the Réseau express métropolitain (in joint venture with Lemay and Bisson Fortin,) one of the largest automated transportation systems in the world.

“As Advanced Air Mobility emerges as transportation's next frontier, we are excited to bring our expertise to this new mode and continue supporting resilient, connected communities across the country,” said Jeff Doble, Director of Transportation Design at Perkins&Will.

“This project demonstrates how early infrastructure planning can help communities and airports prepare responsibly for future AAM operations.” Said JR Hammond, Executive Director of Canadian Advanced Air Mobility. “Adaptable designs such as the Langley vertiport can support the development of a Canadian network that connects urban centres with regional, rural, northern, and remote communities.”

By applying established transportation design principles to emerging aviation infrastructure, Perkins&Will and Langley Regional Airport are providing a practical example of how Canada can begin building the physical foundations required to operationalize Advanced Air Mobility.

About Perkins&Will
Perkins&Will, an interdisciplinary, research-based architecture and design firm, was founded in 1935 on the belief that design has the power to transform lives. The firm is committed to creating a better, beautiful, more equitable world through Living Design, an approach that integrates environmental, social, and design considerations to advance ecological health and well-being. Interior Design named Perkins&Will a “Sustainability Giant” in 2025; Architizer named it the world’s “Best Sustainable Firm” in 2023; and Metropolis named it “Firm of the Year” in 2022 for its industry leadership in advancing climate action and social justice. Fast Company named Perkins&Will one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies in Architecture three times, and in 2021, it added the firm to its list of Brands That Matter—making Perkins&Will the first architecture practice in the world to earn the distinction.

With an international team of more than 2,700 professionals, Perkins&Will has over 30 studios worldwide, providing integrated services in architecture, interior design, branded environments, urban design, and landscape architecture. Partners include Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects; McLennan Design; Portland; Nelson\Nygaard; and Pierre-Yves Rochon (PYR). For more information, visit www.perkinswill.com.

About Canadian Advanced Air Mobility (CAAM)
Canadian Advanced Air Mobility (CAAM) is the national industry association for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) in Canada. As a federal not-for-profit, CAAM leads the responsible, sustainable, and innovative integration of AAM across the country. CAAM has partnered with more than 250 organizations including industry, academia, capital and all three levels of government to launch projects aimed at operationalizing the AAM industry. CAAM serves as the unified voice and driving force behind Canada’s growing AAM ecosystem. Visit canadianaam.com to learn more.

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