Travel Portland Visitor Center

Location: Portland

Cost: Not disclosed

Completion: June 2023

Owner/Developer: Travel Portland

Architect: LRS Architects

Engineer: Not disclosed

General Contractor: Swinerton

Submitting Company: Swinerton

Subcontractors: American Heating, Certified Brochure, Chambers Door, Cochran, Culver Glass, Dennis’ 7 Dees, Harry’s Locksmith, Johnson Controls, Lumen, Nia Musiba, Oregon Commercial Painters, People Space, Planar/Cue Gravity, Red Hawk Fire Protection, Security Signs, Spectrum Woodworking, Standard TV and Appliance, WH Cress

In downtown Portland, located within a 100-year-old historic building that once endured a devastating fire, the Travel Portland Visitor Center welcomes tourists and locals.

Collaborating with LRS Architects, Travel Portland envisioned more than just an information hub; it sought to create an immersive experience that captures the essence of Oregon’s natural beauty and Portland’s vibrant culture.

Embracing the existing elements of the historic building, the Visitor Center is a blend of history and innovation. One of the most striking features is a preserved moss wall, a nod to Oregon’s lush flora. It is designed to last eight to 10 years with no watering or maintenance.

The project involved the soft demolition of the existing retail space, a new layout to provide a front-of-house visitor area and back-of-house staff area, upgrades to mechanical/electrical/plumbing, an extensive millwork package, AV package and custom moss and mural walls.

The custom millwork is from locally sourced Douglas Fir. A state-of-the-art video monitor wall near the entrance provides a dynamic platform to highlight scenes, events and attractions, drawing passersby into the space on Harvey Milk Street. The existing wood slats on the ceiling are remnants of the building’s past fire.

Local artists were integral to the project, with Nia Musiba creating wall murals and Subin Yang crafting neighborhood maps.

Fully ADA accessible, the space welcomes visitors of all abilities. Thoughtful design choices, such as a strategic mix of light and dark woods, amplify visual contrasts to help visitors with low vision and vision impairments. A wide and flexible variety of furniture ensures visitors of all abilities have comfortable seating. Custom tables fold into mounted cabinetry, adding flexibility for staff and visitors to create more stations and service points to support events or periods of high foot traffic.

For Travel Portland, the project emphasized a commitment to revitalizing downtown Portland and supporting local businesses. By offering free resources and curated recommendations, the Visitor Center is a vital link between visitors and the city’s treasures.

Swinerton continued its exemplary safety record on the project through comprehensive safety plans, careful preplanning, ongoing training and daily mentoring.

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