J.E. Dunn Construction hits a major milestone this week as it tops out the $295 million Collaborative Life Sciences Building on the Schnitzer Campus at Portland’s South Waterfront. It’s been almost one year since Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber led the state’s education leaders in breaking ground on the project, 2750 S.W. Moody Ave. J.E. Dunn, the contractor […]
Case study executed by SERA Architects with input from Benjamin West and product manufacturers. For further information, please contact Lisa Zangerle at 503-445-7348. Unlike the majority of hotel rooms on the market, the newly refreshed rooms at the Courtyard by Marriott Denver Downtown have sustainable measures that go beyond the basics. Many hotels have adopted […]
As practitioners of urban design, we tend to focus on the built environment as the key to sustainability. But as planners, we also know that communities thrive best when the people who live in them have a stake in their success. Civic Ecology is a process that brings these two critical pieces together through a […]
A few months ago I read with great personal interest an article by Emily Badger for the Atlantic Cities in which she contemplates the notion of the end of the era of homeownership and the rise of the “middle class forever renter.” Behind this purported trend are an increasing number of potential homebuyers (at least […]
Great cities are made up of great neighborhoods, and in Portland the best neighborhoods are those that are the most walkable. Sellwood, where (full disclosure) a few SERA employees reside, is one such neighborhood – a rational grid of Craftsman homes, great parks, a library, an historic outdoor pool, and a Main Street stocked with […]
Disappointment has become an everyday feeling since 2008 for those of us in the design and construction fields, as we saw too many of our pet projects dematerialize. But the loss is especially painful when a project has more potential for innovation than others. For me, the recent decision of the Oregon State Legislature not […]
To kick-off 2012, the Urban Design + Planning studio here at SERA hosted two interns who were interested in getting a glimpse into the Portland culture. As part of their time with us, each intern was tasked with writing a blog post as a reflection on their time in Rose City. Harriett Jameson, a graduate […]
Hot off the press over at Fast Company Design is an article by the Danish design group, Skibsted Ideation, titled, “How Do You Wean People Off Cars? By Rebranding Bikes And Buses.” To set the stage for their perspective, the authors review the recent lackluster launch of the Tata Nano in India. In concept, […]
To kick-off 2012, the Urban Design + Planning studio here at SERA hosted two out-of-state interns who were interested in getting a glimpse into Portland’s urban culture. As part of their time with us, each intern was asked to contribute a blog post as a reflection on their time spent in Rose City. Alexis Garcia, […]
After 13 months of construction, Central City Concern opened a $20 million building this week to serve homeless and impoverished people with mental health issues. Called The Old Town Recovery Center, the building is at Northwest Broadway and West Burnside Street and will replace Central City Concern’s 12th Avenue Recovery Center. It updates and expands […]