Goodbye WaMo, Hello Condos

This weekend I was driving by the former Washington High School (later Washington-Monroe) along Southeast 12th Avenue near Morrison and noticed a demolition in progress.

Somehow, despite reading The Oregonian cover to cover every day (or at least skimming it), I'd missed the report that Beam Construction has made a deal with Portland Public Schools (years in the making) to redevelop the long-vacant Washington High School site. According to the article, and confirmed to me in a recent phone conversation with Bradley Malsin, head of Beam, the school's original building facade will be preserved, while some of the other surrounding structures are being torn down. I can't argue with that: some of those structures were fairly ugly and compromised the integrity of the original structure.

Malsin also told me that the architect for the project will be MCA Architects, although SERA Architects is also involved on the Portland Public Schools side. MCA is also to design an adjacent five-story condo building for Beam on the site. A recent perusal of the firm's online portfolio included projects such as an air cargo facility at Newark Airport, corporate offices in suburban Hillsboro, and several renovations of downtown buildings including the historic Dekum building - although that was back in 1987.

MCA seems like a solid fit for the restoration of the original Washington High building given their renovation experience. But I didn't see any new condo projects in their portfolio. I can't help but wonder about Beam making perhaps a more adventurous choice for the new condo structure planned for the adjacent site. A frequent Beam collaborator in the past, Works Partnership, would have made a great choice. They recently won an AIA award for the unbuilt but spectacular B-Side-6. The ultra talented Colab was also involved in Beam's bid for the Burnside Bridgehead project. I'd have loved to see a condo of theirs in Southeast. But then again, maybe MCA will design a great-looking building. And I'm prepared to give Beam the benefit of the doubt. I like their Eastbank Commerce Center and adjacent Water Avenue Commerce Center quite a lot.

Neighbors who have for years enjoyed using the grass fields outside Washington High may be happy to learn that the developer's goal is to preserve approximately half of the six-block school site for open space.

Stopping by the site over the weekend, where demolition was already in progress, it was quite moving to see the half-torn down pieces. In particular, the old gymnasium was left partially exposed over the weekend. One could see in huge letters the word "WAMO" painted on the side, along with the school's bear mascot. WaMo is an abbreviation for Washington-Monroe, but it seemed appropriate here as an interjection referring to the wrecking ball.

  This could be a great project for Southeast Portland, bringing new housing, some of which will be priced for middle-income or 'workforce' levels. But as I sneaked into the in-progress demolition site, it was incredible just to ponder the ghosts of WaMo's distant and recent past escaping into the winter air. Not only were countless basketball games and school assemblies held there over the generations, but when Hurricane Katrina struck a year and a half ago, refugees were given temporary shelter in that gym.

More information will be forthcoming about architectural plans for the site, but in the meantime, I favor pausing to consider what once was.

Comments

[TJ Norris]

Seems we were at the same site today! I have a cache of photos. Thanks for the more detailed story of the goings-on! Visual Mapping

[Frank Dufay]

when Hurricane Katrina struck a year and a half ago, refugees were given temporary shelter in that gym.

It's a small point but actually the refugees never arrived. The gym was all decked out and prepared but went unused. Fot those of us involved in that effort, it was interesting to be back inside and see what a wasted community resource the closed gym represented.

Here's hoping the condo development helps move forward the develeopment of the community center.

[Doug Brown]

Yes it would be nice if the classmates that are still living could visit before Beam does anything. Good thing there are keeping the Facade.

Doug Brown Class of 1962.

God Bless,

Doug