Portland, OR
60,000 sf
Office
2019
Langley Investment Partners commissioned LEVER to design Redfox Commons, a 60,000 sf renovation that knits together two World War II era warehouses to form one light-filled creative office campus. The buildings, once home to an agricultural equipment company, are located at Guild’s Lake Industrial Sanctuary, one of Portland’s largest industrial areas. This project sits at the southern end of the industrial park, bordering a residential neighborhood, the city’s largest urban park, and the Willamette River.
Like many early structures in the Pacific Northwest, the buildings are framed using regionally harvested timber. Recognizing the historic and environmental significance of this material, the renovation preserves and utilizes the original lumber.
The original buildings were constructed by the Freeman Company during WWII. The large floorplates allowed room for servicing agricultural equipment.
The project sits on the edge of the Guild's Lake industrial park, bordering a residential neighborhood to the south.
Salvaged lumber from an overbuilt mezzanine was catalogued and reused on site.
In the deconstruction process, the wood from an overbuilt mezzanine was salvaged to create a new entry between the two existing structures. Working with the general contractor R&H Construction, the lumber was grouped and catalogued by length. From this stock list, LEVER created a diagram for the placement of the boards within the new entry.
Each color on the diagram indicates a different board length to assist the contractor in the selection and placement of salvaged boards.
Wood from an existing overbuilt mezzanine is repurposed to create a light-filled glass atrium that becomes the main entrance and connection between the two buildings.
Screw-laminated timber columns bring together a mix of original heavy timber and new glue-laminated members to create a durable frame for the new entry.
The original trusses were sandblasted and remain exposed, highlighting the natural beauty of the wood. New 80'-long clerestory windows were added to each roof to bring light into the large open floor plates which accommodate single or multiple tenants and varied uses over time.
The interior office spaces showcase the beauty of the original lumber.
The rest of the material palette was selected to complement the industrial neighborhood’s history and identity; the façade and roof are clad in corrugated weathering steel and a ribbon of metal-framed storefront windows provide new views to the surroundings. A series of rain gardens mitigate stormwater and the addition of a new patio and sidewalks are an indication of area developments as envisioned under Portland’s 2035 Comprehensive Plan.
The project is on the site of the 1905 Lewis and Clark Exhibition, a historic event for Portland's industrial growth.
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Framing for the new addition.
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New addition utilizes a mix of salvaged and new wood to ensure structural integrity.
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Excavation underway for the foundation of the new addition.
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The existing timber frame is exposed to receive new cladding.
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The refurbished structure of the west building is ready for new framing to begin.
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View of original structure.
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Lumber salvaged from the existing structure.
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Construction of new addition made of salvaged lumber from the original structure.
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Framing for the new addition.
8/8
New addition utilizes a mix of salvaged and new wood to ensure structural integrity.
1/8
Excavation underway for the foundation of the new addition.
2/8
The existing timber frame is exposed to receive new cladding.
The original buildings were constructed by the Freeman Company during WWII. The large floorplates allowed room for servicing agricultural equipment.
The project sits on the edge of the Guild's Lake industrial park, bordering a residential neighborhood to the south.
Salvaged lumber from an overbuilt mezzanine was catalogued and reused on site.
Each color on the diagram indicates a different board length to assist the contractor in the selection and placement of salvaged boards.
Wood from an existing overbuilt mezzanine is repurposed to create a light-filled glass atrium that becomes the main entrance and connection between the two buildings.
Screw-laminated timber columns bring together a mix of original heavy timber and new glue-laminated members to create a durable frame for the new entry.
The interior office spaces showcase the beauty of the original lumber.
The project is on the site of the 1905 Lewis and Clark Exhibition, a historic event for Portland's industrial growth.
