Riverside Centre, Office Building Re-positioning

Portland, Oregon

How do we reveal the historic, industrial bones of an outdated commercial office building and create interactive spaces for 21st century tenants?

An accessibility ramp meanders through thoughtful landscape in front of an office building

FFA was contracted to re-imagine the way The Riverside Centre building represents itself to both its surroundings as well as to existing and future tenants. Located near Portland’s South Waterfront, the building began as a World War II-era furniture warehouse.  In the late 1970s, it was repurposed as a commercial office building.  The initial renovations presented what was, at the time, a ‘modern’ workplace.  However, it did not include ADA-compliant entries or restrooms and provided nothing in the way of amenities or opportunities for occupants to engage outside their individual business suites.  Additionally, it had no presence to the public, or to those trying to find it, as it was tucked away and surrounded by overgrown trees.

FFA’s approach first began by unearthing the bones of the building – giving it back its industrial identity.  By removing interior details which masked original features, we uncovered the historic palette of the concrete and heavy timber structure. Now, the public spaces boast ceilings that are over four feet higher than they had been.  Playing off the cool of the concrete and the warmth of the exposed timber, our team chose materials and finishes for the common areas that are durable and subtle to allow the industrial structure to be the highlight of the space. Gathering spaces were carved out to allow people to connect, and the building owner incorporated bright furnishings to complement the concrete, steel and raw wood building details.

The next step was to support the needs of modern-day tenants by providing appropriate exterior amenities, ADA access and a warm presence to building occupants and visitors.  The design team eliminated overgrown landscaping and a narrow brick approach with the intent of creating a furnished ‘front porch’ which tenants and their guests can enjoy.  Clean, simple, newly poured concrete steps and an accessibility ramp now meander through a rich landscape of native grasses, providing a welcoming approach to the building which had previously been lost in its surroundings.

Year Completed:
2020
Size:
100,000 sf
Project Contact:
Richard Grace, AIA, NOMA
Partner, Market Lead
Connect
A man and a woman seated at a coffee table in an office building's lobby, as a woman in a coat passes them
Unmasked heavy timber creates a warm glow.

A rough sketch of a lobby of an office building

Woman walking out of an elevator as another prepares to enter

Two women sit at a table next to landscaping in front of an office building

Site plan of office buildings and proposed landscaping

A black and white photo of a sign reading "Riverside Centre" which leads to a the front door of an office building that is hidden behind overgrown landscaping
Entryway (before)

BEFORE AND AFTER

Compare images of the building’s previous state to it’s refreshed look. One of the key elements to tenant improvements is understanding the existing space’s potential for change.

Two people walking down the front steps outside an office building
Entryway (after)
A black and white photo of a brick pathway leading to an office building surrounded by overgrown landscaping
Exterior pathway (before)
A woman walks down a concrete ramp through tall landscape grasses in front of an office building, while another woman walks up the stairs toward the front door
Exterior pathway (after)
A dated,, poorly lit first floor office lobby
Lobby (before)
A barista serves a man coffee from a cart in a first floor office lobby, as another woman approaches
Lobby (after)
The plain, dated elevator vestibule in an office building
Elevator Vestibules (before)
A woman pushes open an office's glass door and steps out to a vestibule with a subtle grey and white mural of a historic Portland streetcar decorating the wall
Elevator Vestibules (after)