In terms of physical work, the vast majority of energy being spent right now is simply to give the building a cohesive (and accessible) circulation system, and new plumbing (read: bathrooms!), electrical, and mechanical systems. There is a fair amount of restoration and repair going on as well, but given that our basic aesthetic position is to generally let things be what they are, the scope of that work is somewhat limited. With deep respect to Brad Cloepfil, W+K this is not. And this, my friends, is the way that the Leftbank Project is possible. Amazing spaces for good prices, intended for the good folks who work for something far more important than money.
As the basic work wraps and the people start moving in, this first step of preparing the building will give way to another, more outwardly visible phase. We call it… phase 2. ( ….boom! ) Several of the projects slated are ones that require either special consent from our friends at the city, additional funding, or both. At the top of this list is a living wall that would cover the ‘storage’ building. That is, a wall of plants roughly 40 feet high and 150 feet long. It will be a fabulous way to greet people coming into town off of I-5 from Seattle, and a tangible effort to improve both the air and the peace-of-mind-quotient in the area.
Another big gesture in the works is a large mural on the South face of the building. It will face Weidler and the Rose Quarter, and be again, another significant place-making element in the area. Who creates the mural will likely be determined through a competition process that will hopefully be culminated with the original work of some great Portland artist going very large. There’s a great rendering of what something like that would look like, brought to you by our pals at Moto Interactive.
Other future improvements are in the less sexy realms of water reclamation, solar and wind power generation and others… actually, did I say less sexy?
..stay tuned. And if you’ve something to offer in the planning and/or promotion of these projects, let me know.
