Sideyard Portland Public Building Project, Oregon Design Project, Burnside Bridgehead Framework plan OR, USA Architecture Photos
Sideyard Mixed-Use Building in Portland
Apr 16, 2020
Design: Skylab Architecture
Location: Portland, Oregon, USA
Photos by Stephen Miller
Sideyard Portland, Oregon
A leftover 20,000 sq ft berm space was created when the City of Portland built the new one-way Couch Street couplet reconnecting the roadway to the Burnside Bridge. Sideyard was designed as a working-class building aimed at public transportation connectivity, pedestrian openness, and bicycle priority access.
It is positioned centrally in the new eastside community envisioned by the Burnside Bridgehead Framework plan. The ground floor will be activated by storefront along third avenue and work space above. This building program will reintegrate a pedestrian stair down from the Burnside Bridge level to third avenue akin to the original stairs that previously existed.
This wedge building will feature a new CLT structural system with open ground level commuter-oriented retail environments for daily guests and tenants. The workspace above will be wrapped in brick masonry with the building acting as an anchor for the Burnside Bridge and a gateway to the eastside community.
This Central Eastside site is located at the geographic heart of the City of Portland and at the edge of the daily commuter flow of automobiles, bikes and pedestrians. The development helps to strengthen the connection between the eastside community and the westside downtown urban core. Also located in the neighborhood is the world-renowned Burnside Skatepark, constructed on an adjacent leftover city space beneath the Burnside Bridge and leased to the skate community.
The building development team has additionally leased a small space under the bridge adjacent to Sideyard and the skate park for food carts. This will extend the Third Avenue ground level retail environment into the forgotten and unused urban spaces full of creative potential.
Since 1996, Key has been building uncommon places primarily in Bend, Hood River and Portland, Oregon. With every project they strive for a workable paradox: to fit into the surroundings while also standing out. Creating whole new opportunities for residents and businesses without unnecessarily disrupting historic precedents.
Project Quotes from Skylab’s Jill Asselineau, Project Director
Connecting to the world at large: “Sideyard celebrates a connection to Portland and the broader Pacific Northwest. Skylab purposely employed materials and techniques distinct to this time and place.”
Project’s most important idea: “Finding a harmonious voice in this emerging neighborhood that is responsive and in tune with the modern vernacular. Placing a coin upon an underutilized site to maximize the neighborhoods potential.
Role of the client: “Savvy developer, seeing the potential in an undeveloped berm leftover from the Couch couplet road realignment project.”
Selecting materials: “The goal was to provide a noble stage for community activity and future public/ private uses. Creating a series of comfortable and inspiring spaces simply framed with a palette of masonry, wood, glass, and concrete.”
Innovation factors: “Cross laminated timber is a new and sustainable building material that celebrates the inherent structural qualities of wood. This material was championed by the general contractor for its regional relevance, availability, and simplicity of assemblage. Employing this mass timber system saved on both time and labor expenses. The project also used mass plywood for the interior stair structure, landings and treads. This project is one of the first to employ and elegantly demonstrate the potential of this wood product.”
Inside and outside spatial relationships: “The siting of Sideyard created a piazza at the corner of Couch and Burnside. A popular bicycle commuter route, the critical mass of neighborhood, and future restaurant tenants will work together to activate this neighborhood amenity.”
Sideyard Mixed-Use Building, Portland – Building Information
Architecture: Skylab Architecture
Skylab Design Team
Jeff Kovel, Design Director
Brent Grubb, Project Manager
Jill Asselineau, Project Director
Nathan Cox, Project Architect
Jennifer Martin, Project Architect
Tony Tranquilli, Project Designer
Andrew Borell, Project Designer
Stephen Miller, Visualizer
Project Team
Contractor: Anderson Construction
Civil Engineer: Harper Houf Peterson Righellis Inc.
Structural Engineer: catena engineers
Mechanical Engineer: PAE
Electrical Engineer: Evans Engineering and Consulting
Landscape: Shapiro Didway Landscape Architects
Plumbing: Caliber Plumbing and Mechanical
Specifications: JLC Architectural Consulting
Products
Interstate Brick
Georgia Pacific Dens Element
Tech Lighting
Arcadia Storefront and Curtain Wall
DR Johnson CLT panels and glulam members
Freres mass plywood panels
Photography: Stephen Miller
Sideyard Mixed-Use Building in Portland, Oregon information / images received 160420
Location: Portland, Oregon, USA
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