Edith Green – Wendell Wyatt Federal Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Edith Green – Wendell Wyatt Federal Building |
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Front of the building from the west in 2012
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| General information | |
| Type | Office |
| Location | Portland, Oregon, United States |
| Coordinates | 45°30′52″N 122°40′37″W / 45.5144°N 122.6770°W |
| Completed | 1970s |
| Opening | 1975 |
| Management | General Services Administration |
| Height | |
| Roof | 270 feet (82 m) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 18 |
| Floor area | 372,461 square feet (34,602.8 m2) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Skidmore, Owings and Merrill |
| Main contractor | Hoffman Construction Company |
The Edith Green – Wendell Wyatt Federal Building is a tall building in downtown Portland, Oregon, United States. It opened in 1975 and is owned by the U.S. Federal Government. This 18-story office building has over 370,000 square feet (34,000 m2) of space. It was designed by the Skidmore, Owings and Merrill architecture firm. The building is named after Wendell Wyatt and Edith Green. Both served in the United States House of Representatives.
History of the Building
The Green – Wyatt building was built in the 1970s. Hoffman Construction Company completed it for about $20 million. The building first opened its doors in 1975.
In June 1989, a fire started in the lobby. It caused $300,000 in damage. The building's sprinkler system helped to contain the fire. Firefighters returned in February 1990 for a false alarm. This happened when someone stuck in an elevator accidentally set off the alarm.
Another fire occurred in February 1993. A discarded cigarette caused $25,000 in damage to insulation. Everyone in the building was safely evacuated. Firefighters quickly put out the small fire. At that time, the building was worth $120 million.
In April 1995, the building was evacuated due to a security threat. No dangerous items were found. After this, new security measures were added. These included metal detectors and security guards. Visitor parking in the basement was also removed. Vehicles entering the building now need government ID.
The building faced another security threat in October 1995. Again, nothing dangerous was found. On the anniversary of a similar event at another federal building, a memorial was placed nearby. This memorial is at Terry Schrunk Plaza. The plaza has an underground parking area for the Green-Wyatt Building. This parking area was once part of a past plan to harm a U.S. Attorney who worked in the building.
In May 2001, the building closed for a day. This happened after power transformers failed. A similar power issue closed the building in February 2004. The Green – Wyatt building also closed on September 11, 2001. This was after major attacks happened in New York and Washington D.C.
The building began a big renovation in 2009. This $133 million project aimed to make the building more energy-efficient. SERA Architects designed the improvements. This included a new look for the outside of the building. PLACE studio worked on the outdoor areas. Funding came from a government recovery act. The goal was to achieve a high environmental rating.
The building reopened in May 2013. The remodel cost $139 million. It featured a completely new design. This included a large solar panel on a tilted roof. In 2015, the building was named one of the top 10 sustainable projects. This award came from the American Institute of Architects.
Protests at the Building
The Edith Green – Wendell Wyatt Federal Building is a major government site. Because of this, it is often a place for protests. People gather here to share their views on different issues.
For example, in February 1988, people protested U.S. aid to Israel. In January 1989, veterans protested funding for medical services. In August 1989, others rallied for a ban on nuclear weapons testing. Groups have also protested homelessness.
During the Gulf War in 1991, people protested against the war in Iraq. Nine protesters were arrested at the building. More demonstrations happened in December 1998 and March 2003. These were also related to actions in Iraq.
More recently, the George Floyd and police brutality protests in Portland were often held near this building.
Building Details
The 18-story building has 372,461 square feet (34,602.8 m2) of space. It stands 270 feet (82 m) tall. The building is made of concrete and steel. It follows the international style of architecture. The design was created by the firm of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill.
Many government offices are located here. These include the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Forest Service. The Bureau of Land Management also has offices here. The General Services Administration (GSA) manages the building. It also runs a G.S.A. Café inside.
Parts of the building are used to show art. Past exhibits have featured works by Black artists during Black History Month. Art by disabled artists has also been displayed.
Who are the Namesakes?
The building is named after two former members of Congress. They are Edith Green (1910-1987) and Wendell Wyatt (1917-2009). Both left Congress in 1975.
Wendell Wyatt was born in Oregon. He studied law before joining the FBI and Marine Corps. He fought in World War II. Wyatt served as a Congressman for Oregon for ten years. He was a Republican.
Edith Green grew up in Oregon. She became a teacher after studying at several universities. She was a Democrat. Green represented Oregon in Congress for almost 20 years.
