2002

AIA/IDP CHARETTE

mixed-use urban gateway mid-rise

 BLOCK 76

members

location

Gabriela Quiñones

Portland, Oregon

Portland, Oregon

Portland, Oregon

Portland, Oregon

Urban Context

The urban environment is a symbiotic relationship between the downtown core, neighborhood centers and the support network connecting them together. In order for the urban environment to thrive, a balance must be created between these entities. The region is controlled by the social, political, economic, and ecological environment in which it exists.

Master Plan
The purpose of a master plan is to create a set of rules to achieve a balanced urban environment. These rules serve as a framework to promote a healthy community; which in turn is the synergistic result of the dynamic balance between six interrelated activities and their component places. These six urban components are places to:

Move                 Work                Live                   Create               Inspire               Play

Move- transportation

path, sidewalk, street, bus line, bike lane, rail line, freeway, airport, shipping corridor

Work- creation of goods and services flexible work environment, office space, research lab, classroom

Live- shelter/inhabitation home, apartment, condominium, care facility, dormitory, transitional housing, temporary lodging

Create- physical manipulation of resources: light industry, craft center, factory, assembly shop, studio, repair facility

Inspire- influence, enlightenment cultural center, museum, performance hall, sacred space

Play- recreation parks, open space, sports center, amusement facility

The work, live, create, inspire, and play components are primary, while the move component is secondary. Move is subservient to the others because it is a support system or network connecting the others together.

Poor relationships between these components create the largest problems within the city. With this in mind, the areas addressed in the master plan are:

-Hierarchy Balance: Decrease the Negative Impact of I-5  
-Establish Gateways: Increase Density and Transit
-Maintain a Strong Industrial Base
-Create Public Destinations: Strategic Development along Waterfront
-Stewardship: Create New Residential Connections

Hierarchy Balance: Decrease the Negative Impact of I-5

The Interstate freeway (I-5) is a vital circulation link from the north and south. It is an important part of the move component serving the transportation needs of a large sector of the population, and the region. Despite the important role I-5 has in the area, the size and location enable it to dominate over all of the five primary components. This hierarchy shift also creates a problem because of the underutilized land around the freeway.

Within the master plan there are a number of strategies employed to set the hierarchy straight. The freeway will stay in its present location but a number of alterations are proposed. Where ever possible, structures are built above and below. Nonessential support functions such as parking and storage structures can be placed below the freeway. Inhabitable, mixed-use functions are placed above the freeway.

This has a two-fold effect on the community; it will force the freeway back to a support role and will allow for more important activates to occur along the unique land of the Waterfront.

Establishing City Gateways: Increase Density and Transit

Other vital circulation components in the area are the many bridges and major streets connecting the east and the west.  The location where these bridge decks touch the ground, (near Grand and Martin Luther King Blvd.) are major nodes for the community. It is here that the main live and work components are centered. These centers are designed for high density development. The height limitations (12-18 floors) for the nine block area will exceed those in the surrounding blocks.

Grand and MLK Blvd are one-way streets, presenting a problem. One-way streets establish a means to move large volumes of traffic through the city streets but do little to improve the quality of life in or around these streets. The constant, freeway-like traffic flow is so great it restricts any activity or movement aside from the directional flow. A solution for this problem is to de-couple Grand and MLK Blvd., creating a more manageable transit corridor for a mix of vehicles and pedestrians, while decreasing the overwhelming character of the large one-way street.

Also, public transit has been increased in and around these centers. To strengthen the light rail system already in place, additional rail lines have been placed on Grand and MLK Blvd. connecting the system to the south.

These strategies will clearly define these blocks as civic, business, and community centers and will help define them as gateways in and out of the city.

Maintain a Strong Industrial Base

The majority of the land immediately east of I-5 will remain Light Industrial. It is imperative for this area to remain in its present location because a full range of production activity must be established and maintained to keep a city economically diverse and competitive. 

A strong network of transportation is already in place, such as heavy-rail lines, the freeway and major city streets.  This infrastructure helps to easily support the movement of resources and commodities. The Industrial Sanctuary designation allows a mix of activity to occur without the threat from non-industrial ventures moving in, forcing production to move toward distant edges of the region.

Create Public Destinations: Strategic Development along the Waterfront

The Willamette River is a unique feature in our city. Just as the waterfront on the west side near downtown has established a major public space, so too should the east side waterfront.  The newly opened East Bank Promenade has done much to link the two sides of the river.  Even though these two shores share a similar purpose, the East Bank should be developed with more intensity.  For example, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) has created a strong public anchor along the east side, proving the possibility for development near the waters edge.  Large public destinations such as museums and cultural centers shall be located all along the waterfront. These public buildings and pavilions will be linked by new and existing walkways. These will not only strengthening the public loop around river but it will help serve as destinations for the surrounding communities.

Stewardship: Creating New Residential Connections

One of the greatest contributors to quality of life in Portland comes from the many vital neighborhood communities. To better serve the city, especially the east side communities, newly established neighborhood corridors have been created in the master plan. The residential corridor will create a link from the Buckman, Belmont, and other neighborhoods to the east with the east bank public destination points.

These newly established corridors can also help to create the possibility for restoring the ecological health of the river. A primary concern along an urban river is the amount of pollution entering it from the run-off of city streets. A new, more effective storm water filtration system can be integrated with the residential and recreation space along with the pedestrian and vehicle circulation areas. By using techniques such as bio-swale planting beds and pocket parks along with permeable paving systems the pollution entering the Willamette River can be mitigated.

It is also crucial for dwellings to be included into the urban mix so as to provide a sense of ownership and stewardship to the area.

The architectural design response to the master plan:

Program

Digital Advancement Center: an institute for exploration, innovation and creation in the advancement of new technology

The DAC is a mix-use facility located within the high density development at the northwest corner of NE Martin Luther King Blvd. and E Burnside St.  The three major program components:

            Create            -fabrication facility

            Work            -office, research, seminar class rooms

            Live            -multi-unit housing

Facility Layout

A large fabrication facility is located at the base of the of the building.  Serviced delivery and distribution access is obtained by the a group of large bay door located at street on NE Couch and NE 3rd Ave.  This facility is used primarily for the assembly of prototypes developed in the research areas found throughout the facility.

At the ground floor on Burnside are the administration offices for the institute. A cyber café is located on the corner and around the corner retail and commercial space is located along MLK Blvd. The lobby for the residential units is located just north of the café on MLK Blvd.

Office and seminar rooms are located on the upper levels of the south and west sides of the building. Research labs are also located on these levels, across and atrium circulation space. The south and west facades take advantage of solar orientation with a photovoltaic double skin.  This will allow the building to draw all its energy needs from these two walls, as well as use it to maintain other passive HVAC systems.

The residential units are oriented around a single loaded corridor on the west side of the apartment block. Some parking and storage will be located in the basement.

A multipurpose assembly room is located at the top floor. This high-tech room can be used for multimedia presentations for the inhabitants of the center and/or the general public. To the south and west an outdoor deck affords breakout space, providing great light and views around the city.

Construction System

The building is constructed so as to allow for maximum flexibility. All levels utilize a raised plenum floor mechanical and electrical distribution system.

The office, research, and class rooms are located on large open floor plates.

The residential units are held in place by a series of large bent-frames held in place by floor decking.  The individual units are created by interlocking infill modular units to enable the inhabitants to create a variety of options to suit their needs.