The Richard L. Harris Building (8 NW 8)

NW 23rd & Lovejoy, Portland, OR 

DETAILS

PROJECT TYPE - Mixed-Use including Transitional Housing, Healthcare and Offices
COMPLETION - 2004
CLIENT - Central City Concern
CONSTRUCTION COST - $13 million
SIZE - 81,000 sf, 180 apartments

AWARDS

2007 - I. Donald Terner Prize: Innovation and Leadership in Affordable Housing
2006 - Oregon Downtown Development Association:
Downtown Housing Award 
2006 - Oregon Concrete & Aggregate Producers Association:
Excellence in Concrete Institutional Residential Award

 

Situated on the prominent corner of West Burnside and the North Park blocks in downtown Portland, the Richard L Harris Building is warm and inviting with a home-like, non-institutional character that expresses the unique program and a sense of “exuberant coherence.”

The mission of the Richard L. Harris Building is to provide transitional housing for low income and special needs individuals. 

Residential units are placed in the wings of the L-shaped structure. The corner includes common areas and balconies overlooking the park at each floor level. The first and second floors are occupied by both the residents amenity spaces and a primary health care clinic accessed by separate entrances. 

Designed with an intended 100-year life span, the building incorporates a high-performance envelope and construction techniques. A highly efficient integrated structural design led to minimal columns and lowered costs. The brick clad external walls incorporate high performance “rain screen” construction with in-the-cavity insulation.

Project Completed by Paul Jeffreys as Lead Designer while at SERA Architects

Photographs used with the kind permission of  Michael Mathers Photography