KOIN Center facts for kids
Quick facts for kids KOIN Center |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Alternative names | KOIN Tower King Kong Building |
| General information | |
| Type | Commercial offices Residential condominium |
| Location | 222 SW Columbia Street Portland, Oregon |
| Coordinates | 45°30′48″N 122°40′40″W / 45.5132°N 122.6779°W |
| Completed | 1984 |
| Cost | US$48 million |
| Owner | ScanlanKemperBard |
| Height | |
| Roof | 509 ft (155 m) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 35 |
| Floor area | 39,019 m2 (420,000 sq ft) |
| Lifts/elevators | 9 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership |
The KOIN Tower is a tall skyscraper in Portland, Oregon. It used to be called the KOIN Center. This building is about 155 meters (509 feet) high and has 35 floors. It was finished in 1984 and cost about $48 million to build. It's one of the tallest buildings in Portland. The company Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership designed it.
History of KOIN Tower
How KOIN Tower Got Its Name
The building was first named Fountain Plaza. But people quickly started calling it the KOIN Center. This was because KOIN television was its most famous tenant. KOIN is a TV station that shows CBS programs in Portland.
When it was being built, some people were not happy. The building blocked the view of Mount Hood. Drivers coming out of the Vista Ridge Tunnel used to see the mountain.
Building a Downtown Link
The KOIN Center was the first part of a bigger plan. The Portland Development Commission (PDC) wanted to build three city blocks. This project aimed to connect downtown Portland's government area with the South Auditorium district.
The South Auditorium area was a big redevelopment project. It started in 1960 and is seen as a successful project. The KOIN Center helped link these important city areas.
The Keller Fountain Connection
The southwest entrance of the KOIN Center faces a plaza. This plaza is across from the Ira C. Keller Fountain. This fountain is a famous public space. It was built in 1970 and was once called the Forecourt Fountain.
A famous architecture critic, Ada Louise Huxtable, called it "one of the most important urban spaces since the Renaissance." This fountain actually gave the original name to the KOIN Center project.
Changes in Ownership
A company called Olympia & York of Oregon built the KOIN Center. They finished it in 1984. Over the years, the building's ownership changed several times.
In 2007, a group of investors bought it for $109 million. Later, in 2009, they lost control of the building. This happened because they couldn't pay their mortgage.
In 2009, a Portland company bought the office part of the building. Then, in 2015, ScanlanKemperBard bought the office tower for $88 million.
Modern Upgrades
In 2016, the KOIN Center got some big improvements. The main lobby was completely updated. Other parts of the building were also improved.
The lobby now has a huge 32-screen media wall. This is the biggest media wall in Portland. As part of these upgrades, the building was officially renamed the KOIN Tower.
Design of KOIN Tower
The KOIN Tower takes up an entire city block. It is covered in orange brick. White limestone trims the bottom of the building. The roof is shaped like a pyramid and is made of blue steel.
Unique Look
The building has a unique "ziggurat-like" shape. This means it has steps or setbacks as it goes higher. Its blue top makes it stand out from other buildings in Portland. It's easy to recognize.
Its design reminds some people of Art Deco skyscrapers from the 1920s. They call its style "Neo-Art Deco."
Different Entrances
The KOIN Tower has different parts for different uses. Each part has its own entrance.
- Offices are on SW Columbia Street.
- Shops and a former theater space are on the southwest corner.
- Homes (condominiums) are on SW Third Avenue.
- A restaurant has its own entrance on SW Clay Street.
This design helps the building connect with its surroundings in many ways.
Hidden Parking
A special feature of the KOIN Tower is its parking. The entrance to the underground parking is on the next block over. This means none of the four sides of the building have a parking entrance. This makes the street fronts look much nicer.
Fossils in the Stone
If you look closely at the limestone at street level, you can see something cool. It's full of fossils! You might find sand dollars, bryozoans, and barnacles.
What's Inside KOIN Tower
The KOIN Tower has four main uses. Each is in a different part of the building.
Shops and Restaurants
The first three floors have shops and office spaces. A restaurant called Morton's The Steakhouse is on the ground floor.
Office Spaces
Floors 4 through 19 are used for offices. Many different companies have offices here. Some of them include Skanska USA Building, First American Title Insurance, and Robert Half International.
Homes in the Sky
The Fountain Plaza Condominiums are on floors 20 through 31. These are apartments where people live.
TV Station and Broadcasts
The studios and offices for KOIN, Portland's CBS TV station, are in the basement. They also use part of the ground floor. The blue spire at the very top of the building holds equipment. This equipment is used to broadcast radio and television signals.
The building used to have a six-screen movie theater. It was called the KOIN Center Cinema. It opened in 1985 but closed in 2004.
See also
In Spanish: KOIN Center para niños
