When it was originally built in 1915, the Ford Building at 2505 SE 11th Avenue at Division was just that: an assembly plant for Ford automobiles, and the only one in Oregon. They built Model Ts here, Falcons, and maybe even an Edsel or two.
Now, courtesy of Portland's Emerick Architects and a California developer, the massive 82,000 square foot brick building has new life as a flexible office and retail space intended for creative industries. And indeed, when I visited recently, strolling through the several floors and cavernous halls, it seemed like nearly every one of the scores of units was occupied by some sort of photographer, yoga studio, or web design company.
The Ford Building also is also calling upon one of its tenants, Gallery Homeland, to curate art for all of the public areas in the building, of which there is a lot: more than 5,000 square feet. I recently reviewed one of the current shows, by artist Susan Murrell, for The Oregonian, and was taken by what an installation opportunity this building is. The Ford isn't the first old warehouse conversion that has filled its public spaces with art; Beam Development's Works Partnership-designed Eastbank Commerce Center and Olympic Mills Commerce Center warehouse rehabs in the Central Eastside do much the same. Still, it's an encouraging trend.
Emerick Architects has done a few other noteworthy building renovations in the past, such as the circa-1920s Porter Building in the Pearl District, a new-old headquarters for Grand Central Baking near the burgeoning North Mississippi area, and a grand old Masonic temple that's become the headquarters for SEIU local 503 (and I love the idea of working-class union guys taking over for weird elitist Masons). The firm's Northwood Home along the Willamette was also the first house in the area to receive the US Green Building Council's LEED for Homes designation.
But chances are the Emericks (principals Brian and Melody) won't ever design and/or renovate a building of this scale again, unless somebody comes calling for a stadium or a blimp hangar. The Ford Building also occupies a unique site that's somewhat removed from the rest of the Central Eastside, which lies to the west and north. The Ford occupies a small stretch of Division Street at 12th Avenue that, with Genie's restaurant, Lovecraft Biofuels and Ramekin's Cafe (among others), is becoming one of numerous little retail clusters scattered throughout Portland's neighborhoods.
Although the brick facade and the massive scale are impressive, ultimately the Ford Building will benefit from more storefront retail on the ground level. It's an imposing structure with too much streetfront space shut off to the outside. But as businesses like Seyta Selter's terrific Dutchess clothing/tailor shop (home of the swell $500 individually tailored suit) occupy some of that retail frontage, the Ford will really come alive even more -- and not just when one a freight train rumbles just a few feet outside.
It's been decades since Ford Motor Company produced any automobile designs to get me excited. You'd probably have to go back to the late '60s Mustang for that. (It could be worse, though: they're not GM or Chrysler. Have you seen the PT Cruiser? Or the Chevy HHR? Eeewww!) But the Ford Building seems to epitomize much of what's right not only with preservation in Portland, but those occupying the spaces.
[UPDATE 10/15: I'm also adding some photos below (in addition to my own) provided by Val Ballestrom of the Bosco-Milligan Foundation]
this is a very cool building - the spaces epitomize the loft ideal. tall ceilings, brick walls and large industrial sash. the tough thing about this building though is that it is bordered by two busy streets, which hurts the street facing storefronts. This does not give the retail much chance for cars to stop and pop in and browse. On S.E. 7th parking is allowed during non-rush hours, which might help improve it's presence. The clusters of retail along division and Clinton, and 12th might draw in people by foot, and certainly a worthy contribution to the hip S.E. enclaves. We certainly need more and more projects like this. Eastbank Lofts, Portland Storage, B&O, are all good examples, and other eastside haunts are ready to be part of that realm. One day the city will parlay development, housing, incubator and creative flex spaces within the eastside industrial sanctuary to ponder the view of the city and the river and take advantage of strong existing buildings like this one.
Posted by: ka | October 13, 2008 at 06:53 PM
It took me a minute to understand your headline, but once I did, it produced a good laugh. I remember that jingle.
I went to an art opening in this building a few months back and was pretty impressed with the renovations, and the contribution that the tenants are making to the building and the surrounding area.
Posted by: Mike Thelin | October 13, 2008 at 10:48 PM
I was able to go inside this building a couple of years ago as renovations were first getting underway. It's amazing the detail and care that were put into such an industrial building. Of course, the Ford building was designed by A.E. Doyle (or at least his firm), so in some respects the quality of workmanship is not surprising.
I don't think any Edsels or Falcons were ever built here as Ford let go of the building (if I remember correctly)around the start of World War II. After that it served as an OLCC outlet and warehouse, before becoming the home of Binford & Mort publishing (aka Metropolitain Printing), and finally, it was owned by Multnomah County until they offloaded it 5 or so years ago.
My understanding is that the Ford Building was linked underground to the smaller building across 11th where until recently there has long been a repair shop. Parts would come in by rail directly into this smaller building, they were unloaded and then taken to the assembly lines in the main structure. If you walk around the back of that smaller building on 11th you'll see rail lines leading between two buildings - and a rail car still sitting there! Its not a Ford-era rail car, however. Starting on the ground floor, each floor of the Ford Building contained a different part of the assembly line process - and I once heard that the building's roof was built to withstand extreme weight and finished Model T's were stored there! Of course the now-vacant corner was a showroom and it's unfortunate that the wonderful hex tile was not restored during the renovation - it was everywhere in that front corner portion of the building.
I just wish it still had its water tower.
Posted by: val | October 14, 2008 at 03:28 PM
It's a redevelopment project our neighborhood is proud of.
Posted by: Frank Dufay | October 15, 2008 at 03:50 AM
I hope they didn't leave significant traces of arsenic, sulfur and other poisonous chemicals in the area.
Posted by: metal buildings | August 10, 2009 at 02:16 PM