ADAPTIVE REUSE
COMMUNITY
The MAX train design competition was organized by the Center for Public Interest Architecture in Portland, Oregon in partnership with TriMet, Portland State University School of Architecture and the Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability.
I worked with three colleagues to conceptualize and plan the design submittal on behalf of GBD Architects' GBD+ committee.
This competition came as the City of Portland was struggling to provide services to its community. The teams were tasked with finding a way to repurpose the original 1980s train cars from the inception of the regional light rail system and reimagine how they could be used to serve the residents of the region.
Our solution envisioned using defunct light rail stations near houseless populations to provide critical services; from immediate needs like shelter and food in the short term to longer term needs like job training. Keeping the cars on or near the existing light rail tracks allowed them to be moved where they were most needed. The use of each car was dual purpose, ranging from commercial kitchen/cafe to medical/veterinary services, and a classroom/shelter. All were designed to be flexible to accommodate complementary uses.
Completed in the Fall of 2020 this submission won first place, awarded by a local panel of architects and community leaders.
OFFICE
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As Project Manager I led a team of five for the adaptive reuse of this 1914 National Register Landmark county courthouse from public courthouse to private office building. The building was in need of major systems upgrades that included a seismic retrofit. The project required a thoughtful but creative reimagining for spec office use while preserving historic material. Collaboration with the State Historic Preservation Office and National Park Service was critical to making sure the project could take advantage of Historic Tax Credits. I worked on this project while employed by GBD Architects taking it through Design Development.