Southeast Belmont Street (KPTV)
BY BRIAN LIBBY
Belmont-Sunnyside Neighborhood Tour
Explore Southeast Portland's Sunnyside neighborhood along SE Belmont Street in this Architectural Heritage Center tour. The neighborhood, which has lately seen controversy as a building on Belmont's last contiguous block of historic commercial storefronts has been threatened with demolition, contains a wonderful mix of late 19th and early 20th century homes, along with numerous streetcar-era commercial buildings. Tour begins at Sunnyside School Park, SE 35th Avenue and Yamhill Street. 10AM Saturday, July 2. $20 ($12 for AHC members).
Merchants And Markets: Touring Portland’s Historic Yamhill District
Exploring the heart of Portland’s late-nineteenth century commercial district, this Architectural Heritage Center tour visits the Yamhill Historic District and nearby historic buildings of SW Second and Third Avenues. The route is packed with the names of prominent city pioneers who made their mark as merchants, developers and architects as well as providing some of the city’s finest examples of cast iron, Richardsonian Romanesque and Classical buildings. The tour also will visit the Willamette’s first bridge, the first public market, and the city's first Chinatown as we discuss how the district spearheaded the first preservation efforts for Portland’s downtown. Tour begins outside the World Trade Center, SW First Avenue and Salmon Street. 10AM Tuesday, July 5. $20 ($12 for AHC members).
Classical Downtown Portland Tour
Downtown Portland contains an extensive collection of classically influenced buildings, many of which are clad with glazed terra cotta, a building material that was at its height of popularity in the early 20th century. Visitors on this Architectural Heritage Center tour will see the city’s first “skyscraper,” a bank that could have been a Greek temple and learn about several architects from this period who left an indelible impression on Portland including A.E. Doyle, the firm of Whidden and Lewis, and the Reid Brothers from San Francisco. Tour begins on SW Broadway at Pioneer Courthouse Square, above the fountain. 6PM Wednesday, July 6. $20 ($12 for AHC members).
Lair Hill Neighborhood Tour
It turns out that Lair Hill is not named for a hill. Named for pioneering Portland lawyer and newspaper editor William Lair Hill, this residential neighborhood and subject of an Architectural Heritage Center tour is one of Portland’s oldest. Lair Hill contains a fascinating mix of historic homes, along with notable buildings significant for their connections to the city’s early immigrant populations. It’s also a neighborhood that was impacted by urban renewal and freeway development. Tour begins outside Lair Hill Bistro, 2823 SW First Avenue. 6PM Thursday, July 7. $20 ($12 for AHC members).
Downtown Portland (north end) and Chinatown Tour
This tour explores the abundant architectural and cultural history in the downtown neighborhood wedged between Old Town and the Pearl District. Along the way visitors on this Architectural Heritage Center will see 19th century gems like the Mariner’s Home building, which has just been rehabilitated and turned into the Society Hotel. One will also learn how the area became New Chinatown (and later Japantown) and landmark buildings like Union Station, the US Custom House, and even a historic fire station. Tour begins at NW Third Avenue and Davis Street. 10AM Saturday, July 9. $20 ($12 for AHC members).
Forest to Frame: Two Mass Timber Buildings in Portland
Mass timber construction can be a catalyst for connecting urban expansion to the economic well being of our Northwestern rural communities. Completed mass timber projects in Europe, Canada, and Australia demonstrate the feasibility of the technology and the environmental benefits have been well documented. The challenge faced by the design and construction community in the United States is translating this system of building into realizable projects locally. In addition to the regulatory hurdles and required performance testing, we need to rethink the way we design mass timber buildings that connects forest management, sourcing and local manufacturing. Lever Architecture founder Thomas Robinson will share lessons learned in the design and realization of two new cross-laminated timber projects in Portland, including Albina Yard, the first domestically-pr
Old Town Historic District Tour
The commercial district near the Skidmore Fountain and the oldest standing buildings in downtown comprise this tour of Portland’s only National Landmark Historic District. Visitors on this Architectural Heritage Center tour 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. Along the way, visitors will also learn about some beautiful but long-lost buildings while also seeing great examples of historic preservation. Tour begins at Waterfront Park's Japanese-American Historic Plaza, NW Naito Parkway and Couch Street. 10AM Tuesday, July 12. $20 ($12 for AHC members).
Pioneers To Postmodern Tour
Take a whirlwind tour of the entire range of Portland's architectural history. Visitors on this Architectural Heritage Center tour will learn about the first wooden structures near the river as well as the elaborate cast iron, stone and terra cotta decorated buildings of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. From there one will be transported into the modern age and the sleek designs of Pietro Belluschi and the Post Modernism of Michael Graves. Tour begins at southwest corner of SW Pine Street and Naito Parkway. 6PM Wednesday, July 13. $20 ($12 for AHC members).
COTE Lloyd Eco District Walking Tour
The Lloyd EcoDistrict is aiming to be the most vibrant, sustainable and livable urban neighborhood in the nation. As this tour from the American Institute of Architects' Committee on the Environment will demonstrate, this collaborative community sustainability effort has already lead to a 10 percent decrease in district energy use in only two years, as well as a host of transportation improvements, and many upcoming waste projects. Learn about the district's pioneering programs such as LAMP, a bulk buying program for LEDs, see Oregon Convention Center's huge solar display, and tour innovative features such as NORM, the neighborhood's friendly organic matter recycling machine. Meetup location to be determined. 12PM Friday, July 15. $35 ($25 for American Institute of Architects members, $15 for AIA associate members).
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