The Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon has unveiled its transformation by the Seattle-based LMN Architects, which leverages the assets of the original structure while intervening with architectural solutions to enhance existing facilities.
A new glass canopy injects natural light into the 305,000-square-foot interior punctuated with improved wayfinding and a 3D lighting system composed of circular elements. New flooring patterns recall white lichen and gray stones, while its more vibrant color detailing is illuminated in a chic fashion, thanks to glowing pylons lining the venue. Locally based landscape architecture practice Mayer/Reed contributed to the project with the flexible outdoor space it crafted, which reference the cultural heritage of the Pacific Northwest with weathered steel and textural plants.
“The Oregon Convention Center is prominently positioned close to the Willamette River and Portland’s urban core, and the renovation reflects the local culture, history and the city,” says LMN design partner Wendy Pautz. “Blurring the edge between the interiors and the community through materials and strategic architectural interventions, we designed spaces allowing the public to circulate through and feel like a local.”