2281 NW GLISAN BUILDING
PORTLAND, OREGON

Project Type
Mixed-Use
Project Designer
John Lockwood Carhart
Architect of Record
Allied Works

   The building at 2281 NW Glisan is a 14,000 square foot mixed use urban infill building that contains retail space on the ground level, commercial tenant space on levels 2 and 3, and a private residence for the building’s owners on the top two floors.  The owners wanted a modern, timeless urban residence inspired by the work of Mies van der Rohe and Richard Neutra that  would perform as a long-term commercial development.

   Set behind a veil of existing street trees, a skin of glass, slate, and stainless steel mesh wraps the structural frame and extends to the limit of the allowed zoning volume. The composition of surfaces – solid, screened and transparent – presents a unified exterior expression while negotiating diverse interior functions.

   As with similar projects of this scale, John’s role was both senior designer and project architect. John initiated all design ideas and guided the project through all phases – from initial site studies through multiple concepts and ultimately, construction documents.

   Additionally, John successfully wrote and negotiated with the City of Portland all of the zoning and building code appeals – such as height limit and setbacks – that were essential to the project’s feasibility.