Public Service Building (Portland, Oregon) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Public Service Building |
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From the west in 2018
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| General information | |
| Type | Commercial offices |
| Location | 920 SW Sixth Avenue Portland, Oregon |
| Coordinates | 45°31′02″N 122°40′45″W / 45.51727°N 122.67919°W |
| Completed | 1927 |
| Height | |
| Roof | 67.06 m (220.0 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 15 |
| Floor area | 21,442 m2 (230,800 sq ft) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | A.E. Doyle & Associates |
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Public Service Building and Garage
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| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 96000998 |
| Added to NRHP | September 12, 1996 |
The Public Service Building is a tall, historic office building in downtown Portland, Oregon. It stands about 67.06 m (220.0 ft) (220 feet) high and has 15 stories. This building and its attached parking garage were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.
It was built in 1927 for two important companies: the Portland Gas and Coke Company and the Pacific Power and Light Company. These companies provided services like gas and electricity to the public. That's why the building was named "Public Service Building." An interesting fact is that the very first Niketown store opened here!
Contents
Building History and Height
When the Public Service Building was finished, it became the tallest building in Portland. It held this record for many years, until the 1960s. In August 1962, the Hilton Portland Hotel became taller, reaching 229 feet (70 m) (70 meters).
The building has two side sections, called wings. These wings were originally only two stories tall. But in 1957, they were made much taller, reaching 12 stories high.
Long ago, the main power plant for the city was located in the basement of this building. Today, that space is still used for the city's main power lines.
Building Design and Look
The Public Service Building was designed by a famous local architect named A.E. Doyle. It was one of three buildings in Portland that he designed in a style called Italianate. This style often includes features inspired by Italian Renaissance buildings.
The main designer for this project was Charles K. Greene. He also worked on two other similar buildings in Portland: the Bank of California Building (built in 1924) and the Pacific Building (built in 1926). Greene started the design, but another architect, Pietro Belluschi, finished the project.
The first three floors of the building are covered with gray terra-cotta. Terra-cotta is a type of baked clay. The upper floors are made of gray brick. You can also see terra-cotta on the decorative cornices and other details. The building has a cool wave design on its moldings.
Originally, the roof was covered with red clay tiles, just like its sister buildings. Pietro Belluschi also designed the elevator doors in the lobby. These doors had designs that showed the utility companies that worked there.
Because it was the tallest building in town, the utility companies put large neon signs on the roof. These signs originally said "POWER," "HEAT," "GAS," and "LIGHT," with each word facing a different direction. Later, all four sides of the sign said "PACIFIC POWER."
A.E. Doyle, the architect, passed away in January 1928, just three weeks after the Public Service Building opened.
Building Updates and Changes
The Public Service Building has been updated several times over the years. Major renovations happened in 1957, 1973, and 1999.
- The 1957 renovation was when the building's wings were made taller, reaching 12 floors.
- In 1973, the neon signs and the original red tile roofs were removed. A new metal roof was put in their place.
- The 1999 renovations focused on making the building more energy-efficient. This project cost about $20 million.
In 1993, the building was sold to the Goodman Family for $3 million. This family also owns parking garages and lots in Portland.
Famous Stores Inside
The very first retail store for Nike ever opened in the Public Service Building. It was located on the ground floor, at the corner of 6th and Salmon streets. This store was called Niketown. Later, Nike used this name for other large stores in major cities around the world.
The Niketown store in the Public Service Building opened in November 1990. It stayed there for 21 years, closing in October 2011. After that, it moved to a different location in downtown Portland.
See also
In Spanish: Public Service Building (Portland) para niños
