Format
Brief
City
Portland
State/Province
OR
Country
USA
Metro Area
Portland
Project Type
Special Use
Location Type
Central Business District
Land Uses
Office
Parking
Performance Space
Theater
Keywords
Adaptive use
Creative finance
Cultural facilities
Historic preservation
LEED Platinum certified
National Historic Landmark
Public-private partnership
Sustainable development
ULI Awards for Excellence 2007 Winner
Site Size
0.5
acres
acres
hectares
Date Started
2004
Date Opened
2006
A brief is a short version of a case study.
Transforming the historic Portland Armory into a performing arts center required a thoughtful approach as well as creative financing and design. Built in 1891, the armory stood for many years as one of its neighborhood’s defining elements, but by the turn of the 21st century it was in dire need of repair. Armed with a sales pitch for his partners and a plan for Portland Center Stage (PCS)—the city’s premier theater company—to raise funds to buy the armory, local developer Robert Gerding set out to convert the former fortress into a permanent home for PCS by reconstructing its distinctive facade and installing a state-of-the-art theater within. The redeveloped Gerding Theater achieved LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification at the Platinum level, becoming the first building on the National Register of Historic Places, as well as the first performing arts center, to do so.
Although it is the second-largest 19th-century building in Portland, the armory has a footprint of only 20,000 square feet (1,858 m2). And the theater required 55,000 square feet (5,110 m2). The solution was to excavate 30 feet (9 m) below street level—requiring extensive shoring—to create enough volume to fit a 200-seat “black box” theater (placed underground), a 599-seat main theater, rehearsal spaces, and administrative offices.
Become a member today to view this case study.
Unlimited access to this robust content is a key benefit of ULI membership. View a “Free Look” case study to see what you are missing, and consider becoming a member to gain unlimited access to ULI Case Studies.
Free Look Learn More about Membership
Format
Brief
City
Portland
State/Province
OR
Country
USA
Metro Area
Portland
Project Type
Special Use
Location Type
Central Business District
Land Uses
Office
Parking
Performance Space
Theater
Keywords
Adaptive use
Creative finance
Cultural facilities
Historic preservation
LEED Platinum certified
National Historic Landmark
Public-private partnership
Sustainable development
ULI Awards for Excellence 2007 Winner
Site Size
0.5
acres
acres
hectares
Date Started
2004
Date Opened
2006
Developer
Gerding Edlen Development
Portland, OR
Owner
Portland Center Stage
Portland, OR
Architect
GBD Architects Inc.
Portland, OR
Principal Author(s)
Julie Stern
ULI Awards for Excellence 2007 Winner