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Portland Building

Coordinates:45°30′56″N122°40′43″W/ 45.515635°N 122.678675°W/45.515635; -122.678675
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The Portland Building
Viewed from the southwest in 1982
Portland Building is located in Portland, Oregon
Portland Building
Location within downtown Portland
Alternative namesPortland Municipal Services Building
General information
TypeGovernment offices
Architectural stylePostmodern
Location1120 SW 5th Avenue
Portland,Oregon
Coordinates45°30′56″N122°40′43″W/ 45.515635°N 122.678675°W/45.515635; -122.678675
Completed1982
OpeningOctober 2, 1982
CostUS$41.2 million[1]
OwnerCity of Portland
Height
Roof70.41 m (231.0 ft)
Technical details
Floor count15
Design and construction
Architect(s)Michael Graves
Emery Roth & Sons
Structural engineerDesimone Consulting Engineers
Main contractorHoffman Construction
Pavarini Mcgovern Construction
Renovating team
Architect(s)DLR Group
Main contractorHoward S. Wright Construction
References
[1][2][3][4]
Portland Public Service Building
Architectural stylePostmodern[4]
NRHP referenceNo.11000770[5]
Added to NRHPOctober 25, 2011[6]

ThePortland Building,alternatively referenced as thePortland Municipal Services Building,is a 15-story municipal office building located at 1120 SW 5th Avenue indowntown Portland,Oregon.Built at a cost of US$29 million, it opened in 1982 and was considered architecturally groundbreaking at the time.[7][8]

The building houses offices of theCity of Portlandand is located adjacent toPortland City Hall.It was added to theNational Register of Historic Placesin 2011.[6]An extensive reconstruction of the building began in December 2017[9]and was completed in 2020.[10]The building was temporarily closed for that work, and the closure was extended by theCOVID-19 pandemic.

History[edit]

The distinctive look ofMichael Graves' Portland Building, with its use of a variety of surface materials and colors, small windows, and inclusion of prominent decorative flourishes, was in stark contrast to the architectural style most commonly used for large office buildings at the time,[8]and made the building an icon ofpostmodern architecture.It is the first major postmodern tall office building, opening beforePhilip Johnson'sAT&T Building,and its design has been described as a rejection of theModernistprinciples established in the early 20th century.

Graves' design was selected in a large design competition, with Johnson as one of the three members of the selection committee. Graves was added into the competition after Johnson threw out the entry from architectGunnar Birkertsfor having not been Postmodern enough. Birkerts went on to design theDetroit Institute of ArtsSouth Wing, which was re-clad by Graves in 2007.

Portland MayorFrank Ivanciewas among those who expressed the opinion that the modernist style, then being applied to most large office buildings, had begun to make some American cities' downtowns look "boring",[8]with most of the newer, large buildings being covered in glass and steel, and largely lacking in design features that would make them stand out.[8]The reaction among architects was mixed, with many criticizing the design while others embraced it as a welcome departure.[8]In 1985, the hammered-copper statuePortlandiawas added above the front entrance.[11]

Beyond questions of style, many structural flaws came to light shortly after the building's completion.[12]The building's failings are the subject of much humor and contempt by the civil servants who work there, who describe it as cheaply built and a challenging place to work.[13]

In 1990, only eight years after it was built, the lobby and food court were in need of remodeling.[14]Four firms, including Michael Graves, were bidding for the job.[14]Karen Nichols of Michael Graves's firm said "Michael feels like he owes the city one.... We have done a lot of public buildings since then. I do know we talk about the Portland Building all the time."[14]

Reconstruction[edit]

In 2014, some city commissioners expressed the view that the building should be demolished due to extensive water infiltration and structural issues. The consensus among the city commissioners was mixed, with one member calling the building a "white elephant", while others opposed the demolition.[15]Michael Graves fiercely opposed demolition.[16]In 2015, city officials were considering spending $175 million to fully renovate the building.[17]

Reconstruction under way in October 2018

In July 2016, plans to renovate the building moved ahead, with the city council choosing a contractor and setting a maximum cost of $140 million for the work, not including estimated non-construction expenses of up to $55 million, such as for the leasing of office space for around 1,300 city employees who will be temporarily displaced during the renovation work.[18]The contractors for the project are architecture firmDLR GroupandHoward S. Wright Construction.[18][19]

The renovation retains the building's basic postmodern architectural style while changing some of the building materials to better withstand weather and earthquakes, and improve interiors for employee satisfaction.[20]The teal colored tiles of the lower three floors would be replaced with largerterracottarainscreentiles, the existing painted concrete facade would be covered by a new aluminum rainscreencladding,the existing dark tinted windows would be replaced with clear glass windows, and the stucco garlands on the side of the building will be rebuilt using formed aluminum.[20]The building envelope was replaced using a unitized curtain wall, allowing the design to reflect Graves's original while repairing years of moisture seeping into the facade and preventing further water damage.[21]The PortlandDocomomo Internationalchapter decried the building's renovation, claiming that the replacement of the building's material would threaten the building's landmark status.[22]

Work on the extensive rebuilding, known by the city as the Portland Building Reconstruction Project,[23]began in fall 2017, with interior demolition work, followed by an official groundbreaking in December.[9][24]The project was expected to take about three years, with completion around the end of 2020.[25]ThePortlandiastatue was covered by a shroud, to protect it from potential damage during the work;[19]the covering was removed in September 2019.[26]The statue also underwent preservation work during this period.[27]As of September 2018, the ongoing project remained on-schedule.[28]

By early 2020, the reconstruction work was sufficiently close to completion that around 1,700 city employees began moving back into the building;[29]the move-in was spread over eleven weekends and was completed in March 2020.[30]However, almost immediately afterward, theCOVID-19 pandemiceffectively reversed the building's return to use, as most staff were instructed to work from home during the pandemic, and a planned March 19, 2020, event to celebrate the building's reopening was canceled.[29]

Only about 30 employees were working in the building in August 2020, and the city was predicting that most employees in the departments that use the Portland Building would continue working from home until sometime in 2021.[29]As of August 2020, renovation work on the interiors of the first floors was continuing but was expected to be finished by the end of the year.[30]The work was completed by October 2020.[10]

In 2021, after renovation

TheGeorge Floyd and police brutality protestsin Portland in 2020 were centered near the building.

Features[edit]

The roof of the Portland Building is covered with agreen roof,installed in 2006.[31][32]The roof was proposed in 2005,[33] part of an experiment throughOregon State Universityto testSedum spathulifoliumas a water-absorbing plant for the northwest.[34][35]The new roof will help the building's heating, cooling, and storm-water runoff systems.[36]

Offices[edit]

As of October 2009, the Portland Building housed these municipal bureaus and departments: Office of Cable Communications & Franchise Management, Bureau of Environmental Services, Facilities Services, Bureau of Human Resources, Office of Management and Finance, Mt. Hood Cable Regulatory Commission, Bureau of Parks and Recreation, Bureau of Purchases, Bureau of Risk Management, Bureau of Technology Services, Bureau of Transportation, and thePortland Water Bureau.[37]The Portland Building is located across the street fromPortland City Hall.

Reception[edit]

In May 1983, the building won anAmerican Institute of Architectshonor award.[38]

The building's style remains controversial among Portlanders as well as the entire architecture field.[14]In 1990,The Oregonianstated "it's hard to find anyone who doesn't likePioneer Courthouse Square.... it's even harder to find anyone who admits to liking the Portland Building. "[14]Nearly a quarter century later,OregoniancolumnistDavid Sarasohnrevisited the theme, noting that the "huge blue tiles, colored glass and odd pastel flourishes meant to evoke early modern French paintings" actually resembled "something designed by a Third World dictator's mistress' art-student brother."[39]

These laypersons' appraisals were bolstered by Italian-born modernist architectPietro Belluschi,who called the building "totally wrong" and declared: "It's not architecture, it's packaging. I said at the time that there were only two good things about it: 'It will put Portland on the map, architecturally, and it will never be repeated.'"[14]

Not all commentary has been negative. In the estimation of architectural criticPaul Goldberger:"For better or for worse, the Portland Building overshadows other things. It is more significant for what it did than how well it does it. It had a profound effect on American architecture and brought a return to classicism that brought us better buildings."[14]

In October 2009,Travel + Leisuremagazine called the Portland Building "one of the most hated buildings in America".[40]

DLR Group's reconstruction work on the building was recognized with anAmerican Architecture Awardin 2021.[41]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ab"Emporis building ID 122646".Emporis.Archived fromthe originalon March 6, 2016.
  2. ^"Portland Building".SkyscraperPage.
  3. ^Portland BuildingatStructurae
  4. ^ab"Top 21 Absolutely Ugliest Cities In The World".Cities Journal.5 June 2014.Retrieved17 March2019.
  5. ^"Weekly list of actions taken on properties: 11/07/11 through 11/10/11".National Park Service.November 18, 2011.RetrievedNovember 23,2011.
  6. ^ab"Portland Building gets a place on national history list".Portland Tribune.November 17, 2011.Archivedfrom the original on September 16, 2019.RetrievedSeptember 16,2019.
  7. ^"Designs as varied as uses of city's newer buildings".The Oregonian.Portland. February 19, 1990.
  8. ^abcdeWeiner, Ed (October 18, 1981). "The most famous building in Seattle is in Portland: Michael Graves' new building is an architectural milestone and is anything but boring".The Seattle Times,p. E1/E4.
  9. ^abBell, Jon (November 29, 2017)."City set to kick off $195M reconstruction of the Portland Building, shroud Portlandia statue".Portland Business Journal.RetrievedNovember 4,2018.
  10. ^abLibby, Brian (October 13, 2020)."A Renovation Saves Michael Graves' Portland Building: DLR Group and contractor Howard S. Wright bring sweeping changes to the Postmodern landmark".Metropolis.Archivedfrom the original on October 20, 2020.Retrieved2021-06-17.
  11. ^Crick, Rolla J. (October 7, 1985). "Thousands bid ‘Portlandia’ warm welcome: Statue lifted successfully to final spot".The Oregonian.p. A1.
  12. ^Silvis, Steffen (November 10, 1999)."Reaching for the Sky".Willamette Week.Archived fromthe originalon June 5, 2008.RetrievedSeptember 16,2019.
  13. ^Senior, Jeanie (July 15, 2005)."What's not to love about the skyline? A lot, it seems".Portland Tribune.Archived fromthe originalon February 11, 2012.RetrievedMay 19,2019.
  14. ^abcdefgMorris, Rebecca (February 19, 1990). "30 Years of Planning Produce City for '90s".The Oregonian.pp. A01.
  15. ^Schmidt, Brad (January 3, 2014)."Portland Building: Four commissioners, four approaches for dealing with Portland's $95 million 'white elephant'".The Oregonian.Portland.
  16. ^Rebecca Koffman (October 10, 2014)."The Portland Building: Architect Michael Graves fiercely defends his controversial creation against demolition".The Oregonian.
  17. ^Schmidt, Brad (April 29, 2015)."Portland Building overhaul now estimated at $175 million".The Oregonian.
  18. ^abRichman, Talia (July 27, 2016)."Contractor, architectural firm picked to renovate Portland Building".The Oregonian.RetrievedAugust 1,2016.
  19. ^abTenney, Sam (March 1, 2018)."Portlandia protected for renovation project".Daily Journal of Commerce.Portland.RetrievedNovember 4,2018.
  20. ^ab"The Portland Building".DLR Group.Retrieved2024-02-14.
  21. ^"Watch: Delivering on Design Vision and Building Performance".DLR Group.Retrieved2024-02-14.
  22. ^Goldberg, Mackenzie (March 9, 2018)."The iconic Portland Building's postmodern, multicolored facade is dismantled".Archinect.RetrievedMay 16,2019.
  23. ^"The Portland Building Reconstruction Project: Phase I Report".City of Portland.December 2, 2016.RetrievedNovember 4,2018.
  24. ^Ayoubi, Ayda (March 15, 2018)."Demolition Phase Is Underway on Michael Graves' Portland Building".Architect.RetrievedNovember 4,2018.
  25. ^"Reconstruction of the Portland Building underway".KGWNews.December 4, 2017.RetrievedNovember 4,2018.
  26. ^"Portlandia is back after months undercover".KOINNews.September 12, 2019.Archivedfrom the original on September 14, 2019.RetrievedSeptember 15,2019.
  27. ^"Protecting the Symbol of the City: Preserving Portlandia".DLR Group.Retrieved2024-02-14.
  28. ^Friedman, Gordon R. (September 11, 2018)."Portland Building redo on time, on budget, city says".The Oregonian.RetrievedNovember 4,2018.
  29. ^abcRedden, Jim (August 12, 2020)."Portland Building: Spiffed up, shiny and empty".Portland Tribune.Archived fromthe originalon September 24, 2020.Retrieved2021-06-17.
  30. ^abPost, Nadine M. (August 14, 2020)."Drastic Rebuild Resurrects Graves' Landmark Portland Building".Engineering News-Record.Archivedfrom the original on August 22, 2020.Retrieved2021-06-17.
  31. ^Genovese, Fran (September 18, 2008)."Some Portland roofs to take on a green hue".The Oregonian.RetrievedOctober 19,2010.
  32. ^"Green Roofs".Oregon Field Guide.2010.RetrievedOctober 19,2010.
  33. ^"Twenty years later, Portland Building may get a touch-up".Daily Journal of Commerce.September 21, 2005.RetrievedOctober 19,2010.
  34. ^"Greenroof Research in the Pacific Northwest".Oregon State University.Archived fromthe originalon June 1, 2010.RetrievedOctober 19,2010.
  35. ^"Extension Service News: OSU scientists open green roof test site to public for tour and discussion (10/01/2007)".Oregon State University.October 1, 2007.RetrievedOctober 19,2010.
  36. ^Manfra, Laurie (April 2006)."Portland Building - 1982; The Michael Graves legacy remains as contentious and confounding as ever".Metropolis.
  37. ^"Contact Us: Bureau & Department Listings".City of Portland.RetrievedOctober 19,2010.
  38. ^Dickey, Norma H., ed. (1984). "Yearbook 1984".Funk & Wagnalls New Encyclopedia.New York:Funk & Wagnalls Publishing Company, Inc.ISBN978-0-8343-0069-9.
  39. ^Sarasohn, David (February 5, 2014). "The Portland Building: A Façade Too Weird for Even Portlandia".The Oregonian.p. B4.
  40. ^Wong, Bunny (October 2009)."The World's Ugliest Buildings".Travel + Leisure.RetrievedOctober 18,2010.
  41. ^"DLR Group Earns Two American Architecture Awards".DLR Group.Retrieved2024-02-14.

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]

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