Wieden + Kennedy, Portland Headquarters

Project Architect / Team Designer:  Will Ullman
Architect of Record:  Allied Works

This project involved the transformation of a vacant 1908 warehouse into the headquarters for Wieden + Kennedy, a global advertising agency. The building now supports 400 employees and also provides space for nonprofit arts organizations, including the Caldera Arts Foundation and the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art.

The original brick and timber structure was carefully renovated and is now listed on the National Historic Register. The ground floor was opened to the street with new retail and restaurant spaces that bring life to the surrounding area.

Inside, work areas are organized as small, self-contained “mini-agencies” around the building’s perimeter. Each includes meeting rooms, kitchens, and informal gathering spaces. A new five-story concrete structure was added at the center of the warehouse, tying together the various levels and housing shared amenities like a gym, screening room, and a central auditorium made from reclaimed Douglas fir.

During the day, open connections across the central atrium encourage collaboration and communication throughout the agency. In the evening, the auditorium becomes a flexible public venue for events, performances, and exhibitions.

Awards:

• Architectural Record Magazine, 2001 5th Annual BW/AR Award

• Architecture Magazine, 46th Annual P/A Award