Congress Center facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Congress Center |
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Congress Center reflecting the Portland Hilton Hotel
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| Former names | Orbanco Building (1980–89) Security Pacific Plaza (1989–94) 1001 Fifth Avenue (1994–2001) |
| General information | |
| Type | Commercial offices |
| Location | 1001 SW Fifth Avenue Portland, Oregon |
| Coordinates | 45°30′59″N 122°40′47″W / 45.5165°N 122.6796°W |
| Completed | 1980 |
| Owner | American Realty Advisors Unico Properties LLC |
| Height | |
| Roof | 97.84 m (321.0 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 23 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Skidmore, Owings & Merrill Yost Grube Hall PC |
The Congress Center is a tall office building in Portland, Oregon. It was finished in 1980. This building is currently the ninth tallest in the city. Before its current name, it was known as the Orbanco Building and Security Pacific Plaza. It got its current name in January 2002.
How the Building Was Built
Work on the Congress Center started in 1978. It was completed and opened in 1980. When it first opened, it was called the Orbanco Building. This name came from its biggest tenant, Orbanco Inc. This company planned to rent about 30 percent of the building's space.
Two of Orbanco's main companies, Oregon Bank and Northwest Acceptance Corporation, had their main offices here. Oregon Bank moved into the new building in March 1980. They came from another spot in downtown Portland.
In 2012, the building received a special award. It earned Gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. This award is given by the U.S. Green Building Council. It means the building is very good for the environment. It uses energy wisely and is built in a sustainable way.
In December 2016, two companies bought the building. American Realty Advisors and Unico Properties LLC purchased it. They paid $85 million for the building.
What Does It Look Like?
The famous architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) designed the Congress Center. The building has dark, shiny glass on its outside. This look is different from many older buildings in Portland. Most buildings there are white or light-colored.
The Congress Center's glass is very reflective. It acts like a giant mirror. You can see other nearby buildings reflected in its walls. Some of the buildings you might see are 1000 Broadway, the Portland Building, and the Multnomah County Courthouse.
The Building's Many Names
The Congress Center has had four different names over the years. When it opened in 1980, it was called the Orbanco Building.
In April 1989, its name changed to Security Pacific Plaza. This was because Security Pacific Bank had bought Oregon Bank in 1987. Security Pacific Bank then had its main Oregon office in the building.
Later, in 1992, Bank of America took over Security Pacific. Because of this, the building's name changed again in 1994. It became "1001 Fifth Avenue," which is a shorter version of its street address.
Finally, in January 2002, it got its current name, Congress Center. This name comes from the old Congress Hotel. That hotel used to be on the same spot. It was there from 1912 until 1977. Some old Terracotta arches from the Congress Hotel were saved. They were restored and now form an entrance to a restaurant in the building's lower level.
