Commonwealth (Equitable) Building, Portland (Brian Libby)
BY BRIAN LIBBY
Downtown Portland's North End And Chinatown Tour
This Architectural Heritage Center tour explores the abundant architectural and cultural history in the downtown neighborhood wedged between Old Town and the Pearl District. Along the way visitors will see 19th century gems like the Mariner’s Home building, which has just been rehabilitated and turned into the Society Hotel. One can also learn how the area became New Chinatown, and later Japantown, and see landmark buildings like Union Station, the US Custom House, and even a historic fire station. Tour begins at NW Third Avenue and Davis Street. 6PM Thursday, June 16. $20 ($12 for AHC members).
Modernism And Beyond Tour: The Architecture Of Downtown (North)
Downtown Portland contains an abundance of post-World War II architecture by some of the leading architects and firms of their time. This Architectural Heritage Center walking tour explores the northern portion of the central business district, with five buildings by Belluschi including his most famous of all, the Equitable (now called the Commonwealth) building from 1946, the nation's first office tower with an aluminum and glass curtain wall. Other stops include the work of noted architects and firms like Richard Sundeleaf; Skidmore, Owings & Merrill; and ZGF Architects. The tour will also focus on three modern public plazas and try to figure out reasons for success or failure of those designs. Tour begins at the northeast corner of SW 6th Avenue and Oak Street. 10AM Saturday, June 18. $20 ($12 for AHC members).
Irvington Tour: Tillamook Street And Beyond
The largest National Register Historic District in Portland, Irvington encompasses 583 acres and 2,800 buildings. This Architectural Heritage Center tour explores only a small slice of a remarkable neighborhood, including the work of notable architects like Joseph Jacobberger and Ellis Lawrence – all with the goal of providing a broader understanding of the fascinating and rich history of this one-time streetcar suburb. Tour begins outside Holladay Park Church of God, 2120 NE Tillamook Street. 11AM Sunday, June 19. $20 ($12 for AHC members).
In Process: Kathy Berg and Suenn Ho
In Process is an AIA Portland quarterly lecture series providing insight into the creative process of local architects, designers, makers and creators. In her 18-year career at ZGF Architects, Kathy Shaloo Berg has led teams from programming through construction for a broad range of buildings, including mixed-use developments, corporate offices, residential projects, and museums. Kathy’s work with leading clients in the fields of technology, workplace, higher education, and research has enabled her to offer a depth of experience in the latest advances in high-performance design, as well as learning and office environments. Suenn Ho is a versatile urban designer and professor of architecture who has designed a broad spectrum of projects including notable commissions from several Oregon municipalities as well as private sector projects. She has been a key consultant for Portland’s Old Town/Chinatown working on urban design, community outreach and public art. Her work as a designer with local architectural firms includes a public library, a senior affordable residential tower, frozen yogurt boutiques, grocery store renovations, and the design and re-branding of several public utility service centers. Center For Architecture, 403 NW 11th Avenue. 6PM Tuesday, June 21. Free.
Designing “Bird-friendly” Buildings
As attendees will learn in this informational talk presented by the AIA/Portland Committee on the Environment, the city is situated along the Pacific Flyway, a broad migration front that brings more than 209 species of birds into our airspace. Birds face a ubiquitous and deceptive hazard in the built environment: window glass. Each year, up to 1 billion birds die as a result of window strikes in the U.S. alone. In 2009, Audubon Society of Portland launched a BirdSafe Portland campaign to evaluate the local risk, raise awareness, and advocate for incorporating solutions that synergistically meet sustainability and design objectives. In 2012, Audubon, the City of Portland, American Bird Conservancy, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service collaborated with local architects and developers to produce Portland's Resource Guide to Bird Friendly Building Design. In April 2015, The Portland City Council unanimously adopted a new Green Building Policy, which includes a requirement that all new city-owned buildings incorporate bird-friendly building and lighting design. Bird-friendly building & lighting design has also been written into the draft Central City 2035 Plan. Center For Architecture, 403 NW 11th Avenue. 12PM Wednesday, June 22. $15 ($10 for American Institute of Architects members, $5 for students).
Old Town Historic District Tour
The commercial district near the landmark Skidmore Fountain and the oldest standing buildings in downtown comprise this Architectural Heritage Center tour of Portland’s only National Landmark Historic District. Attendees will see the work of Portland’s earliest architects, learning how cast iron played a central role in their designs and how the city developed so close to the river. Tour begins at Skidmore Fountain, WW First Avenue and Ankeny Street. 6PM Wednesday, June 22. $20 ($12 for AHC members).
PSU Master of Architecture Thesis Show 2016
Portland State University's School of Architecture presents an exhibition of thesis work and installations by its 2016 Master of Architecture candidates, featuring 23 innovative design responses to life in the contemporary world. Portland State University, Shattuck Hall, 1914 SW Park Avenue. 4PM Thursday, June 23. Free.
Vose Elementary School Tour
The soon to be demolished Vose Elementary School in Beaverton, which the local DoCoMoMo chapter has organized this tour of, opened in 1960 and was designed by James C. Gardiner. The first phase consisted of eight classrooms, and was described at the time as looking like “a big Easter hat” by a teacher quoted in The Oregonian. A second phase was completed in 1962, and added a further 9 classrooms, as well as a gym and library. The school is distinctive for its dual circular building forms and its origami-like roof, and will be missed. Local architect and former Vose parent Richard Manning will lead a discussion and tour of the building. Vose Elementary School, 11350 SW Denny Road, Beaverton.5:45PM Thursday, June 23. $15 ($10 for DoCoMoMo members).
Modernism And Beyond: The Architecture Of Downtown (South)
Downtown Portland contains an abundance of post-World War II architecture by Pietro Belluschi, Michael Graves, and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. This Architectural Heritage Center tour explores the southern portion of the central business district. You’ll learn about the controversial as well as the award winners, the architects and firms that designed them, and the issues of the times that led to such dramatic changes to our built environment and skyline. Tour begins at Salmon Springs Fountain, SW Naito Parkway and Salmon Street. 6PM Thursday, June 23. $20 ($12 for AHC members).
Ladd's Addition Tour
Enjoy a stroll through this leafy enclave of early 20th century homes, churches, and businesses. This National Register Historic District is Oregon’s oldest planned community and in 2009 the American Planning Association honored it as one of America’s Great Places. Easily identifiable on any map, the neighborhood, once comprising the property owned by former Portland mayor William Ladd, eschews a traditional street grid for a series of circles dotted with rose gardens. Tour begins on Ladd Circle outside Palio, 1996 SE Ladd Avenue. 10AM Saturday, June 25. $20 ($12 for AHC members).
Hollywood District Tour
The namesake for this thriving northeast Portland neighborhood is the iconic Hollywood Theatre, which opened in 1926. Beyond the theatre lies a fascinating blend of residential and commercial architecture. This Architectural Heritage Center tour takes attendees to both sides of Sandy Boulevard, where one will see lots of historic character but also the impacts of ongoing redevelopment activities. Tour begins at entrance to the Hollywood Theatre, 4122 NE Sandy Boulevard. 11AM Sunday, June 26. $20 ($12 for AHC members).
Last Sundays at the Watzek House
The University of Oregon's John Yeon Center for Architecture and the Landscape invites the public to tour Portland's only National Historic Landmark residence, the Aubrey Watzek House. Completed in 1937, the home's bold yet timeless synthesis of many traditions of residential architecture into a refined new language became an important inspiration for the Northwest Style of Modernism. Published widely and exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art next to such icons as Le Corbusier's Villa Savoye and Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater. Watzek House, 1061 SW Skyline Boulevard. 2PM Sunday, June 26. $20-30 sliding scale (free for students and Yeon Center members).
Creative Placemaking: Portland
Portland is well known for its innovative urban design, engaged neighborhoods, creative environments for artisan businesses, sustainable thinking and practices, and also for challenges such as gentrification, access and inclusion. In Portland’s storied urban setting, this six-day University of Oregon workshop will use place-based examples to explore and build your knowledge and skills in the area of collaborative Creative Placemaking: Portland. University of Oregon, White Stag Block, 70 NW Couch Street. 9AM Monday-Friday, June 27-July 1 and 10AM Saturday, July 2. Price undisclosed.
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