Boston's Charles Rose Selected ForOCAC Expansion

The Oregon College of Art and Craft has selected Charles Rose Architects of Cambridge, Massachusetts for a major expansion to its southwest Portland campus just off Barnes Road. Rose will design two buildings for the first phase of the expansion, a new library and drawing/painging/photography building. The original campus was designed by legendary Oregon architect John Storrs, who also designed Salishan Resort

Rose's buildings embrace the northwest aesthetic perfectly," says OCAC president Bonnie Laing-Malcolmson. "They fit into the landscape, take advantage of views, use natural materials and have a wonderfully human scale while exemplifying the best in contemporary architecture."

A new master plan for OCAC was drawn up by BOORA a couple of years ago that more than doubles the square footage of the campus buildings with additions to existing structures and the addition of a  library, public center, and drawing/painting/photography studio. They missed out on the building commission that went to Rose, but another local firm, Colab, will be working with Rose as the local architect.

Other projects by Charles Rose Architects include numerous public buildings and single-family houses. Public projects include the Currier Center for the Performing Arts in Putney, Vermont, which won a regional AIA design award, and the Carl and Ruth Shapiro Campus Center at Brandeis University in Massachusetts (a local design award winner). The firm is currently at work on two buildings at the University of South Dakota and a youth center in Brooklyn.

Construction for the new OCAC work, part of a $14.5 million capital campaign (which is about half-raised), is expected to begin this summer.

Why Charles Rose for this project?  According to the press release, "The College made the final selection based on their innovative design of architecture in relation to landscape and their national reputation with academic, visual and performing arts projects. The firm also holds a strong commitment to a process and design that reflects OCAC's institutional culture of supporting contemporary art and craft." You could say the same about a lot of other firms, many closer to home, but certainly Rose is no slouch either.

No renderings have been released yet, but I'll plan to post them when they are.

Comments

[pdx2m2]

Selecting Charles Rose for the first buildings at OCAC seems like a good choice. His work should fit the spirit of the campus and the new boora masterplan. boora didn't miss out on the first buildings as they elected not to be pursue the commission. Charlie was selected from a short list that included a number of portland firms.

[Agustin]

Out of curiosity pdx2m2 (or Brian), could you please post the names of the firms involved in the short list? Thank you

[pdx2m2]

The architects interviewed were: Charles Rose, Holst, Opsis, and Mahlum.

[Brian Libby]

If that list is correct (and I assume it is), I think that's a fine group of finalists. If their selection committee ultimately went with Rose, you can't begrudge them that. The fact that these Portland firms were the finalists gives me more confidence in their process.

[dave levine]

The decision to hire Rose shows the effectiveness of his self-promotion and marketing. He's a smooth and charming talker (comes from a family of actors). He's been on a lecture campaign all over the country for the last two years promoting himself. He is proof that marketing beats substance: he doesn't even design his own buildings - he hires the talent.

The "portfolio" he claims credit for was actually the creative work of ex-partner Maryann Thompson and other employees, but he got the legal right to claim credit.

I am sure his employees will produce a good building, but unfortunately Portland is dealing with an architect without ethics nor character - one who would do anything to get his buildings built. Ultimately, this is not good for his clients for his first allegiance is to himself.