Editing Portland Building

{{Short description|Historic building in Portland, Oregon, U.S.}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox building
| name               = The Portland Building
| image              = Portland Building 1982.jpg
| image_size         = 250px
| caption            = Viewed from the southwest in 1982
| alternate_names    = Portland Municipal Services Building
| location           = 1120 SW 5th Avenue<br>[[Portland, Oregon|Portland]], [[Oregon]]
| coordinates        = {{coord|45.515635|-122.678675|region:US-OR|display=inline,title}}
| map_type           = USA Portland downtown
| map_caption        = Location within downtown Portland
| completion_date    = 1982
| opening            = October 2, 1982 
| status             = 
| building_type      = Government offices
| architectural_style = [[Postmodern architecture|Postmodern]]
| roof               = {{convert|70.41|m|abbr=on}}
| floor_count        = 15
| elevator_count     = 
| cost               = US$41.2 million<ref name=Emporis/>
| floor_area         = <!-- {{convert||sqft|abbr=on}} -->
| architect          = [[Michael Graves]]<br>[[Emery Roth & Sons]] 
| structural_engineer= Desimone Consulting Engineers
| main_contractor    = [[Hoffman Construction Company|Hoffman Construction]]<br>Pavarini Mcgovern Construction
| developer          = 
| ren_architect      = [[DLR Group]]
| ren_contractor     = [[Howard S. Wright Companies|Howard S. Wright Construction]]
| owner              = [[Government of Portland, Oregon|City of Portland]]
| management         = 
| references         = <ref name=Emporis>{{Cite web |url=https://www.emporis.com/buildings/122646 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306025521/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/122646 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=March 6, 2016 |title=Emporis building ID 122646 |work=[[Emporis]]}}</ref><ref>{{SkyscraperPage|1869}}</ref><ref>{{Structurae|20019049}}</ref><ref name="Cities Journal">{{cite web |title=Top 21 Absolutely Ugliest Cities In The World |url=http://www.citiesjournal.com/top-14-absolutely-ugliest-cities-in-the-world/4/ |website=Cities Journal |accessdate=17 March 2019 |language=en |date=5 June 2014 |archive-date=16 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190316122921/http://www.citiesjournal.com/top-14-absolutely-ugliest-cities-in-the-world/4/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
{{Infobox NRHP
  | embed = yes
  | name = Portland Public Service Building
  | nrhp_type = 
  | image = 
  | caption = 
  | location = 
  | built = 
  | architect = 
  | architecture = [[Postmodern architecture|Postmodern]]<ref name="Cities Journal"/>
  | added = October 25, 2011<ref name=trib-nov2011/>
  | area = 
  | governing_body = 
  | mpsub = 
  | refnum = 11000770<ref name=NRHP>{{cite web |url=http://www.nps.gov/history/NR/listings/20111118.htm |title=Weekly list of actions taken on properties: 11/07/11 through 11/10/11 |date=November 18, 2011 |publisher=[[National Park Service]] |accessdate=November 23, 2011 |archive-date=November 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151123095435/https://www.nps.gov/nr/listings/20111118.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}}}

The '''Portland Building''', alternatively referenced as the '''Portland Municipal Services Building''', is a 15-story municipal office building located at 1120 SW 5th Avenue in [[downtown Portland]], [[Oregon]]. Built at a cost of US$29 million, it opened in 1982 and was considered architecturally groundbreaking at the time.<ref>"Designs as varied as uses of city's newer buildings". ''The Oregonian''. Portland. February 19, 1990.</ref><ref name="times1981">Weiner, Ed (October 18, 1981). "The most famous building in Seattle is in Portland: Michael Graves' new building is an architectural milestone and is anything but boring". ''[[The Seattle Times]]'', p. E1/E4.</ref>

The building houses offices of the [[Government of Portland, Oregon|City of Portland]] and is located adjacent to [[Portland City Hall (Oregon)|Portland City Hall]].  It was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 2011.<ref name=trib-nov2011>{{cite news| title=Portland Building gets a place on national history list| date=November 17, 2011| newspaper=[[Portland Tribune]]| url=http://portlandtribune.com/component/content/article?id=15793| access-date=September 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190916104010/https://pamplinmedia.com/component/content/article?id=15793| archive-date=September 16, 2019| url-status=dead}}</ref> An extensive reconstruction of the building began in December 2017<ref name="bizjournal-2017nov29"/> and was completed in 2020.<ref name="metropolis-2020"/> The building was temporarily closed for that work, and the closure was extended by the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Oregon|COVID-19 pandemic]].

==History==
The distinctive look of [[Michael Graves]]' Portland Building, with its use of a variety of surface materials and colors, small windows, and inclusion of prominent decorative flourishes, was in stark contrast to the architectural style most commonly used for large office buildings at the time,<ref name="times1981"/> and made the building an icon of [[postmodern architecture]]. It is the first major postmodern tall office building, opening before [[Philip Johnson]]'s [[Sony Building (New York)|AT&T Building]], and its design has been described as a rejection of the [[Modern Architecture|Modernist]] principles established in the early 20th century.

Graves' design was selected in a large design competition, with Johnson as one of the three members of the selection committee. Graves was added into the competition after Johnson threw out the entry from architect [[Gunnar Birkerts]] for having not been Postmodern enough. Birkerts went on to design the [[Detroit Institute of Arts]] South Wing, which was re-clad by Graves in 2007.

Portland Mayor [[Frank Ivancie]] was among those who expressed the opinion that the modernist style, then being applied to most large office buildings, had begun to make some American cities' downtowns look "boring",<ref name="times1981"/> with most of the newer, large buildings being covered in glass and steel, and largely lacking in design features that would make them stand out.<ref name="times1981"/> The reaction among architects was mixed, with many criticizing the design while others embraced it as a welcome departure.<ref name="times1981"/>  In 1985, the hammered-copper statue ''[[Portlandia (statue)|Portlandia]]'' was added above the front entrance.<ref name="warmwelcome">Crick, Rolla J. (October 7, 1985). "Thousands bid ‘Portlandia’ warm welcome: Statue lifted successfully to final spot". ''[[The Oregonian]]''. p. A1.</ref>

Beyond questions of style, many structural flaws came to light shortly after the building's completion.<ref>{{cite news |last=Silvis |first=Steffen |title=Reaching for the Sky |url=http://wweek.com/___ALL_OLD_HTML/25-arch.html |newspaper=[[Willamette Week]] |date=November 10, 1999 |accessdate=September 16, 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080605012411/http://wweek.com/___ALL_OLD_HTML/25-arch.html |archivedate=June 5, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The building's failings are the subject of much humor and contempt by the civil servants who work there, who describe it as cheaply built and a challenging place to work.<ref>{{cite news| last=Senior| first=Jeanie| title=What's not to love about the skyline? A lot, it seems| url=https://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=30852| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120211141727/https://portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=30852| archivedate=February 11, 2012| newspaper=[[Portland Tribune]]| date=July 15, 2005| accessdate=May 19, 2019| url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1990, only eight years after it was built, the lobby and food court were in need of remodeling.<ref name="thirty">{{cite news|title=30 Years of Planning Produce City for '90s|last=Morris|first=Rebecca|date=February 19, 1990|work=[[The Oregonian]]|pages=A01}}</ref> Four firms, including Michael Graves, were bidding for the job.<ref name="thirty" /> Karen Nichols of Michael Graves's firm said "Michael feels like he owes the city one.... We have done a lot of public buildings since then. I do know we talk about the Portland Building all the time."<ref name="thirty" />

===Reconstruction===
In 2014, some city commissioners expressed the view that the building should be demolished due to extensive water infiltration and structural issues. The consensus among the city commissioners was mixed, with one member calling the building a "white elephant", while others opposed the demolition.<ref name="elephant">{{cite news |url=http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2014/01/portland_building_four_commiss.html |title=Portland Building: Four commissioners, four approaches for dealing with Portland's $95 million 'white elephant' |date=January 3, 2014 |newspaper=The Oregonian |location=Portland |first=Brad |last=Schmidt |archive-date=September 5, 2015 |access-date=August 4, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905234431/http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2014/01/portland_building_four_commiss.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Michael Graves fiercely opposed demolition.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2014/10/the_portland_building_architec.html |title=The Portland Building: Architect Michael Graves fiercely defends his controversial creation against demolition |newspaper=[[The Oregonian]] | date=October 10, 2014 |author=Rebecca Koffman}}</ref>  In 2015, city officials were considering spending $175 million to fully renovate the building.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2015/04/portland_building_overhaul_now.html |title=Portland Building overhaul now estimated at $175 million |date=April 29, 2015 |newspaper=The Oregonian |first=Brad |last=Schmidt |archive-date=July 30, 2015 |access-date=August 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150730232426/http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2015/04/portland_building_overhaul_now.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Portland Building undergoing reconstruction, October 2018.jpg|thumb|Reconstruction under way in October 2018]]

In July 2016, plans to renovate the building moved ahead, with the city council choosing a contractor and setting a maximum cost of $140&nbsp;million for the work, not including estimated non-construction expenses of up to $55&nbsp;million, such as for the leasing of office space for around 1,300 city employees who will be temporarily displaced during the renovation work.<ref name="oreg-2016jul27">{{cite news|last=Richman|first=Talia|title=Contractor, architectural firm picked to renovate Portland Building|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=July 27, 2016|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/07/contractor_architectural_firm.html|accessdate=August 1, 2016|archive-date=July 31, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160731161951/http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/07/contractor_architectural_firm.html?|url-status=live}}</ref>  The contractors for the project are architecture firm [[DLR Group]] and [[Howard S. Wright Companies|Howard S. Wright Construction]].<ref name="oreg-2016jul27"/><ref name="DJC-2018mar1">{{cite news| last=Tenney| first=Sam| title=Portlandia protected for renovation project| newspaper=[[Daily Journal of Commerce]]| location=Portland| date=March 1, 2018| url=http://djcoregon.com/news/2018/03/01/photos-portlandia-protected-for-renovation-project/| accessdate=November 4, 2018| archive-date=November 4, 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104170220/http://djcoregon.com/news/2018/03/01/photos-portlandia-protected-for-renovation-project/| url-status=live}}</ref>

The renovation retains the building's basic postmodern architectural style while changing some of the building materials to better withstand weather and earthquakes, and improve interiors for employee satisfaction.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=The Portland Building |url=https://www.dlrgroup.com/work/the-portland-building/ |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=DLR Group |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-02-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240214164021/https://www.dlrgroup.com/work/the-portland-building/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The teal colored tiles of the lower three floors would be replaced with larger [[terracotta]] [[rainscreen]] tiles, the existing painted concrete facade would be covered by a new aluminum rainscreen [[cladding (construction)|cladding]], the existing dark tinted windows would be replaced with clear glass windows, and the stucco garlands on the side of the building will be rebuilt using formed aluminum.<ref name=":0" /> The building envelope was replaced using a unitized curtain wall, allowing the design to reflect Graves's original while repairing years of moisture seeping into the facade and preventing further water damage.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Watch: Delivering on Design Vision and Building Performance |url=https://www.dlrgroup.com/idea/portland-building-facade/ |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=DLR Group |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-02-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240214164021/https://www.dlrgroup.com/idea/portland-building-facade/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The Portland [[Docomomo International]] chapter decried the building's renovation, claiming that the replacement of the building's material would threaten the building's landmark status.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://archinect.com/news/article/150053660/the-iconic-portland-building-s-postmodern-multicolored-facade-is-dismantled |title=The iconic Portland Building's postmodern, multicolored facade is dismantled |author=Goldberg, Mackenzie |work=Archinect |date=March 9, 2018 |accessdate=May 16, 2019 |archive-date=April 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402043105/https://archinect.com/news/article/150053660/the-iconic-portland-building-s-postmodern-multicolored-facade-is-dismantled |url-status=live }}</ref>

Work on the extensive rebuilding, known by the city as the Portland Building Reconstruction Project,<ref name="reconstruction phase 1 report">{{cite web |title=The Portland Building Reconstruction Project: Phase I Report |url=https://www.portlandoregon.gov/omf/article/620754 |website=City of Portland |accessdate=November 4, 2018 |date=December 2, 2016}}</ref> began in fall 2017, with interior demolition work, followed by an official groundbreaking in December.<ref name="bizjournal-2017nov29">{{cite news |last=Bell |first=Jon |title=City set to kick off $195M reconstruction of the Portland Building, shroud Portlandia statue |newspaper=[[American City Business Journals|Portland Business Journal]] |date=November 29, 2017 |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2017/11/29/city-set-to-kick-off-195m-reconstruction-of-the.html |accessdate=November 4, 2018 |archive-date=November 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127113310/https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2017/11/29/city-set-to-kick-off-195m-reconstruction-of-the.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="architect-2018mar15">{{cite news |last1=Ayoubi |first1=Ayda |title=Demolition Phase Is Underway on Michael Graves' Portland Building |magazine=[[American Institute of Architects#Magazine|Architect]] |date=March 15, 2018 |url=https://www.architectmagazine.com/design/buildings/demolition-phase-is-underway-on-michael-graves-portland-building_o |accessdate=November 4, 2018 |url-access=registration |archive-date=November 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104170116/https://www.architectmagazine.com/design/buildings/demolition-phase-is-underway-on-michael-graves-portland-building_o |url-status=live }}</ref> The project was expected to take about three years, with completion around the end of 2020.<ref name="kgw-2017dec">{{cite news |title=Reconstruction of the Portland Building underway |url=https://www.kgw.com/article/news/reconstruction-of-the-portland-building-underway/283-496711676 |accessdate=November 4, 2018 |website=[[KGW]] News |date=December 4, 2017 |archive-date=November 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104170107/https://www.kgw.com/article/news/reconstruction-of-the-portland-building-underway/283-496711676 |url-status=live }}</ref> The ''Portlandia'' statue was covered by a shroud, to protect it from potential damage during the work;<ref name="DJC-2018mar1"/> the covering was removed in September 2019.<ref name="koin-2019sep">{{cite news |title=Portlandia is back after months undercover |url=https://www.koin.com/local/multnomah-county/portlandia-is-back-after-months-undercover/ |accessdate=September 15, 2019 |website=[[KOIN]] News |date=September 12, 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190914000716/https://www.koin.com/local/multnomah-county/portlandia-is-back-after-months-undercover/ |archivedate=September 14, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The statue also underwent preservation work during this period.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Protecting the Symbol of the City: Preserving Portlandia |url=https://www.dlrgroup.com/idea/preserving-portlandia/ |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=DLR Group |language=en-US}}</ref> As of September 2018, the ongoing project remained on-schedule.<ref name="oreg-2018sep11">{{cite news |last=Friedman |first=Gordon R. |title=Portland Building redo on time, on budget, city says |newspaper=The Oregonian |date=September 11, 2018 |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2018/09/portland_building_redo_on_time.html |accessdate=November 4, 2018 |archive-date=November 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104211109/https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2018/09/portland_building_redo_on_time.html |url-status=live }}</ref>[[File:Upper exterior of the Portland Building in 2021, post-renovation.jpg|thumb|In 2021, after renovation|left]]By early 2020, the reconstruction work was sufficiently close to completion that around 1,700 city employees began moving back into the building;<ref name="ptld-trib-2020aug">{{cite news |last1=Redden |first1=Jim |title=Portland Building: Spiffed up, shiny and empty |url=https://pamplinmedia.com/pt/9-news/476523-382250-portland-building-spiffed-up-shiny-and-empty |access-date=2021-06-17 |newspaper=[[Portland Tribune]] |date=August 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924060713/https://pamplinmedia.com/pt/9-news/476523-382250-portland-building-spiffed-up-shiny-and-empty |archive-date=September 24, 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref> the move-in was spread over eleven weekends and was completed in March 2020.<ref name="ENR-2020-8-14">{{cite magazine |last1=Post |first1=Nadine M. |title=Drastic Rebuild Resurrects Graves' Landmark Portland Building |url=https://www.enr.com/articles/49864-drastic-rebuild-resurrects-graves-landmark-portland-building |access-date=2021-06-17 |magazine=[[Engineering News-Record]] |date=August 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200822085425/https://www.enr.com/articles/49864-drastic-rebuild-resurrects-graves-landmark-portland-building |archive-date=August 22, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> However, almost immediately afterward, the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|COVID-19 pandemic]] effectively reversed the building's return to use, as most staff were instructed to work from home during the pandemic, and a planned March&nbsp;19, 2020, event to celebrate the building's reopening was canceled.<ref name="ptld-trib-2020aug" />

Only about 30 employees were working in the building in August 2020, and the city was predicting that most employees in the departments that use the Portland Building would continue working from home until sometime in 2021.<ref name="ptld-trib-2020aug" /> As of August 2020, renovation work on the interiors of the first floors was continuing but was expected to be finished by the end of the year.<ref name="ENR-2020-8-14" />  The work was completed by October 2020.<ref name="metropolis-2020">{{cite magazine |last=Libby |first=Brian |title=A Renovation Saves Michael Graves' Portland Building: DLR Group and contractor Howard S. Wright bring sweeping changes to the Postmodern landmark |url=https://www.metropolismag.com/architecture/in-portland-a-renovation-saves-a-postmodern-landmark/ |access-date=2021-06-17 |magazine=[[Metropolis (architecture magazine)|Metropolis]] |date=October 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020080925/https://www.metropolismag.com/architecture/in-portland-a-renovation-saves-a-postmodern-landmark/ |archive-date=October 20, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> The [[George Floyd protests in Portland, Oregon|George Floyd and police brutality protests]] in Portland in 2020 were centered near the building.

==Features==
The roof of the Portland Building is covered with a [[green roof]], installed in 2006.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2008/09/some_portland_roofs_to_take_on.html|title=Some Portland roofs to take on a green hue|last=Genovese|first=Fran|date=September 18, 2008|newspaper=[[The Oregonian]]|accessdate=October 19, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.opb.org/programs/ofg/segments/view/1743|title=Green Roofs|year=2010|work=[[Oregon Field Guide]]|accessdate=October 19, 2010|archive-date=May 7, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100507064000/http://www.opb.org/programs/ofg/segments/view/1743|url-status=dead}}</ref> The roof was proposed in 2005,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NewsLibrary&p_multi=PJCB&d_place=PJCB&p_theme=newslibrary2&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=10CC81C6EDE567A8&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=Twenty years later, Portland Building may get a touch-up|date=September 21, 2005|work=[[Daily Journal of Commerce]]|accessdate=October 19, 2010|archive-date=June 8, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608193355/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NewsLibrary&p_multi=PJCB&d_place=PJCB&p_theme=newslibrary2&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=10CC81C6EDE567A8&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|url-status=live}}</ref>
part of an experiment through [[Oregon State University]] to test ''[[Sedum spathulifolium]]'' as a water-absorbing plant for the northwest.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://hort.oregonstate.edu/greenroof_block| title=Greenroof Research in the Pacific Northwest| website=[[Oregon State University]]|accessdate=October 19, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100601161433/http://hort.oregonstate.edu/greenroof_block|archive-date=June 1, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/story.php?S_No=483&storyType=news |title=Extension Service News: OSU scientists open green roof test site to public for tour and discussion (10/01/2007) |date=October 1, 2007 |website=Oregon State University |accessdate=October 19, 2010 |archive-date=January 6, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080106152440/http://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/story.php?S_No=483&storyType=news |url-status=live }}</ref> The new roof will help the building's heating, cooling, and storm-water runoff systems.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Manfra|first=Laurie|title=Portland Building - 1982; The Michael Graves legacy remains as contentious and confounding as ever|magazine=Metropolis|date=April 2006|url=http://www.metropolismag.com/story/20060320/portland-building-1982|access-date=|archive-date=2009-01-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090126075152/http://www.metropolismag.com/story/20060320/portland-building-1982|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Offices==
As of October 2009, the Portland Building housed these municipal bureaus and departments: Office of Cable Communications & Franchise Management, Bureau of Environmental Services, Facilities Services, Bureau of Human Resources, Office of Management and Finance, Mt. Hood Cable Regulatory Commission, Bureau of Parks and Recreation, Bureau of Purchases, Bureau of Risk Management, Bureau of Technology Services, Bureau of Transportation, and the [[Portland Water Bureau]].<ref name=Directory>{{cite web |url=http://www.portlandonline.com/index.cfm?c=28533 |title=Contact Us: Bureau & Department Listings |website=City of Portland |accessdate=October 19, 2010 |archive-date=June 9, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609081203/http://www.portlandonline.com/index.cfm?c=28533 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Portland Building is located across the street from [[Portland City Hall (Oregon)|Portland City Hall]].

==Reception==
In May 1983, the building won an [[American Institute of Architects]] honor award.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |editor-last=Dickey |editor-first=Norma H. |year= 1984 |encyclopedia=Funk & Wagnalls New Encyclopedia |publisher=Funk & Wagnalls Publishing Company, Inc. |location=[[New York, New York|New York]] | isbn=978-0-8343-0069-9 |title=Yearbook 1984}}</ref>

The building's style remains controversial among Portlanders as well as the entire architecture field.<ref name="thirty"/> In 1990, ''[[The Oregonian]]'' stated "it's hard to find anyone who doesn't like [[Pioneer Courthouse Square]].... it's even harder to find anyone who admits to liking the Portland Building."<ref name="thirty" /> Nearly a quarter century later, ''Oregonian'' columnist [[David Sarasohn]] revisited the theme, noting that the "huge blue tiles, colored glass and odd pastel flourishes meant to evoke early modern French paintings" actually resembled "something designed by a Third World dictator's mistress' art-student brother."<ref>Sarasohn, David (February 5, 2014). "The Portland Building: A Façade Too Weird for Even Portlandia". ''The Oregonian''. p. B4.</ref>

These laypersons' appraisals were bolstered by Italian-born modernist architect [[Pietro Belluschi]], who called the building "totally wrong" and declared: "It's not architecture, it's packaging. I said at the time that there were only two good things about it: 'It will put Portland on the map, architecturally, and it will never be repeated.'"<ref name="thirty" />

Not all commentary has been negative. In the estimation of architectural critic [[Paul Goldberger]]: "For better or for worse, the Portland Building overshadows other things. It is more significant for what it did than how well it does it. It had a profound effect on American architecture and brought a return to classicism that brought us better buildings."<ref name="thirty" />

In October 2009, ''[[Travel + Leisure]]'' magazine called the Portland Building "one of the most hated buildings in America".<ref>{{cite news| first=Bunny| last=Wong| title=The World's Ugliest Buildings| url=http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/the-worlds-ugliest-buildings/1/| magazine=Travel + Leisure| date=October 2009| accessdate=October 18, 2010| archive-date=October 12, 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101012091149/http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/the-worlds-ugliest-buildings/1| url-status=live}}</ref>

DLR Group's reconstruction work on the building was recognized with an [[American Architecture Awards|American Architecture Award]] in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |title=DLR Group Earns Two American Architecture Awards |url=https://www.dlrgroup.com/firm-news/2021-american-architecture-awards/ |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=DLR Group |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-02-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240214164021/https://www.dlrgroup.com/firm-news/2021-american-architecture-awards/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Architecture of Portland, Oregon]]
*[[Public Service Building (Portland, Oregon)]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/nr/feature/weekly_features/11_11_18_Portland_Public_Service_Building.htm |title=National Register of Historic Places Program Weekly Highlight: Portland Public Service Building|date=November 18, 2011|publisher=National Park Service <!--access-date=August 12, 2017-->}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|The Portland Building}}
*[https://www.portlandoregon.gov/omf/66129 The Portland Building] – City of Portland web page, with links to documents and updates on the Reconstruction Project
*{{Oregon Encyclopedia|portland_building|author=Minor, Kristen}}
*[http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Portland_Building.html Portland Building at GreatBuildings.com]

{{Portal bar|Architecture|National Register of Historic Places|Oregon}}

[[Category:Skyscraper office buildings in Portland, Oregon]]
[[Category:Government of Portland, Oregon]]
[[Category:Government buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Oregon]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Portland, Oregon]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Southwest Portland, Oregon]]
[[Category:1982 establishments in Oregon]]
[[Category:Government buildings completed in 1982]]
[[Category:1980s architecture in the United States]]
[[Category:Michael Graves buildings]]
[[Category:Postmodern architecture in Oregon]]
[[Category:New Classical architecture in the United States]]