Memorial Coliseum curtain to be opened this Saturday for Grand Floral Parade [UPDATED]

For decades, one of the most striking and unique features of Portland's circa-1960 Memorial Coliseum has been hidden away: the ability to flood the arena with natural light by opening the black curtain that encloses the top of the seating bowl.

This Saturday, Portlanders will have a chance to see for themselves just how incredible this indoor-outdoor architectural experience really is. The curtain will be open for the Grand Floral Parade, which originates in the Coliseum.

You can see the effect in the above photo by legendary architectural photographer Julius Shulman. When the Coliseum's curtain is open, this becomes one of the most unique arenas in the entire nation, or even the world. Can you name a single arena or concert hall in the world big enough to hold 10,000 people or more but do so in an interior building illuminated with daylight?

When I spoke with Rich Jarvis of the Rose Festival Foundation, he told me the curtain was actually open for last year's Grand Floral Parade, although no formal announcements were made. I never go to the parade anymore (used to as a child), so I had no idea. I've never heard a single person even mention the curtain being open last year. But I'm not missing this year's opportunity. I'm buying a ticket to the Coliseum for the parade, and entirely so I can see the building itself.

Jarvis also recalled his own experience watching the parade through the open curtain last year. "When you're sitting at the top of the bowl, with that curtain open it actually becomes the best seat in the house," he said. "If you're sitting on the east side, you can look out at the skyline. If you're on the river side, you can actually watch the parade as it continues outside toward downtown."

You can order tickets ($30) to see the parade from inside the Coliseum here. If you are an architect or designer in Portland, or any kind of architecture enthusiast, I strongly recommend taking advantage of this all-too-unique experience. When the Coliseum's curtain is open, this may very well be the ultimate architectural space in the city.

ADDITIONAL NOTE, 6/3/09: Apologies for the short notice, but Portland State University professor Garrett Martin's architecture class has been studying a series of housing options for the Rose Quarter area. Students will be presenting their projects from 5-9PM today at the Leftbank Building, at 240 N. Broadway. I hope to post some of their work in the days ahead.

Comments

[dave]

I'm glad that you saved the Colisem from being bulldozed but the community needs your help to put together a viable business plan for the future of the building. Otherwise we'll be in the same spot in a few years. Unfortunately the answer isn't to compete against the Rose Garden as an arena. Sucking revenue from the RG (a building that while ugly, portland got a great deal on with Paul Allen picking up the majority of the cost) isn't the way to make this work.

[Brian Libby]

Dave,

Thanks for the kind words.

I absolutely agree that the Coliseum needs a plan that complements the Rose Garden arena and does not compete with it.

But I think that definitely can happen.

In the weeks ahead, our Friends of Memorial Coliseum group will be working with city leaders and the Trail Blazers to help articulate the best win-win situation that enhances the overall Rose Quarter development while preserving the Coliseum's architecture.

[brett]

At last night's Pink Martini/Oregon Symphony concert, Thomas Lauderdale pointedly announced that the band will perform a concert celebrating Oregon's sesquicentennial at Memorial Coliseum (which he called one of the city's best buildings, or words to that effect) in August.
I guess the threat of extinction has resulted in needed attention. As Joni sang in that song about paving paradise, you don't know what you've got till it's gone. Maybe the silver lining to the threat will be a viable new plan for the Coliseum and the whole stagnant, badly planned Rose Quarter.

[Douglas K.]

I don't see how the Coliseum could be real competition with the Rose Garden. Garth Brooks, Billy Joel, Hannah Montana, or a future NHL team won't even look at the Coliseum: it's too small. Conversely, smaller concerts (those projected to sell 6000 to 10,000 tickets) and minor league teams aren't likely to book the cavernous Rose Garden; who wants to perform or play in front of banks of empty seats?

Brian's right: the two venues can complement one another by simply leaving the Coliseum to book B-list acts, political rallies and minor league/community sports.

[Greg]

Although I believe that saving the Memorial Coliseum was a horrible decision, I sincerely hope that everyone who attends the parade there has a great time and they get a chance to enjoy the architecture which has been preserved for the time being.

[Ken Bauer]

I find it laughable that some are selling the open curtain Coliseum as some sort of incredible thing when hardly any event was ever held without the curtain in place. So all of a sudden are events going to be held to take advantage of this? I doubt it. On the Rose Garden, i find it to be a wonderful design, especially the roof, that is underrated design wise. But like all art, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

[Glass Bubblers]

Nice work and very very good architect....I love Memorial Coliseum and loving the people here