Projects   About
LAMB

Portland State
University
School of
Art & Design timber home for art,
art history, graphic design
and all the beautiful misfits
makers, creators, thinkers



The building is now complete. New images coming soon.
Illustration showing the courtyard facing the Park Blocks PSU Farmers Market. 
Illustration of a typical teaching studio with 40 foot long glue-laminated beams and 12 foot tall windows for great natural light. The majority of the windows face north for the best daylight without direct sun. Image credit: Michael Grosse, Lever Architecture. Photographs of the completed classrooms in the near future.
Artists have a history of occupying spaces in old industrial buildings because they are (or were) cheap, but also because of the beautiful natural light provided by tall windows that go all the way to the ceiling. This idea played a big role in the development of the typical teaching studios for PSU. Image credit: Asa Albanese.
Looking through the perforated gate out towards the park from the courtyard work space.
Custom-folded metal facade panels exaggerate the inside curves as the vertical lines get closer together to wrap the corner.
The exposed mass timber structure has a major presence and is the primary interior finish for the building. The column to beam connections are concealed within the wood to provide required fire protection and a clutter-free expression.
Bright pink metal and tinted concrete stairs offer a surprise, and catch the eye of passersby on the street.
Gallery space with the inaugural show as part of the Converge 45 Triennial. Installation by Marcus Fischer.
Main three-wall gallery space. Art installation or paint staging?
Gallery space with installations by Jacqueline Kiyomi Gork and Tannaz Farsi.













A new home that brings together Art Practice, Art History, and Graphic Design departments under one roof on Portland's historic Park Blocks. The four-story building is primarily teaching studios with specialty production labs for various design and art-making endeavors. Common areas throughout provide space for students to hang out, rest, or work. An exterior courtyard offers secure outdoor working and gathering space with the option to open up to the PSU Farmers Market site for public events.
       In architecture circles, there's a sentiment that goes something like "making buildings takes time and is hard, so you better love the process." For me, this project was all about having a great time working with the amazing group of folks running the school, as well as the student volunteer group and individual faculty members who shared their time and expertise. With my background in art and graphic design, this project felt personal.            
        One of the spaces I'm most proud of is the new gallery on the ground floor. Student-run and school-run galleries are situated on the most urban street of the site and have a dedicated entrance for community access. The largest space is based on a "three-wall" concept where three permanent walls form an immersive U-shaped room. The walking paths and room layout relate to both the classic museum "enfilade" and contemporary commercial street galleries that need to create an immersive experience while also maintaining large areas of storefront glass to connect to the city.  Completed and open! More photography coming soon.
Details:
Completed
Mass timber structure
100,000 sf
Four stories


Credits:
Work performed on behalf of Lever Architecture while under employment. Photography Michael Gastineau and LAMB, or as noted.
Next Project
Reach out
nathan@
lambprojects.com
206-295-8671
Portland, Oregon
Licenses:
Oregon ARI-15588
Washington 12169
Lamb Studio, LLC



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