S. H. Kress and Co. Building (Portland, Oregon) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Kress Building
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Seen from 5th Avenue in 2018, with "Kress" lettering visible on the cornice
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 Location in Portland, Oregon
Location in Oregon
Location in the United States
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| Location | 638 SW 5th Avenue Portland, Oregon |
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| Area | 0.3 acres (1,200 m2) |
| Built | 1928 |
| Architect | E.J. Hoffman |
| Architectural style | Chicago school, Beaux Arts Classicism |
| NRHP reference No. | 96000994 |
| Added to NRHP | September 12, 1996 |
The Kress Building is a cool old building in downtown Portland, Oregon. It's so special that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical site.
It was built way back in 1928 for a store called S. H. Kress & Co.. Today, big companies like Nike and Sephora have offices or stores there.
What Does the Kress Building Look Like?
The Kress Building has five floors and is located in the middle of Portland's shopping area. It was built in 1928 for the S. H. Kress & Co. store. The company's own architect, E. J. Hoffman, designed it.
Building Materials and Shape
The building has a strong steel frame that sits on a concrete base. Its outside is covered in cream-colored shiny terra cotta. This material is decorated with many classic designs. The roof of the building is flat.
The Kress Building has a rectangular shape. It was originally 100 feet by 100 feet. In 1953, they added a single-story part to the east. This new section was also covered in terra cotta to match the rest of the building.
Architectural Style of the Kress Building
The Kress Building was designed in the Commercial style, which comes from the Chicago school of architecture. It also has details from the Classical style. This means it has a retail base with a mezzanine (a floor between two main floors). It also has several stories topped with a classical entablature, which is a fancy upper part of a building.
The top part of the building, called the parapet wall, has the store's name, "Kress," written on it. Even though it was built a bit later than other buildings of its style, it's a well-kept example of the strong, fireproof buildings built in Portland in the 1910s and 1920s. These buildings make Portland's downtown area special.
