A glass-walled pavilion now forms the centrepiece of the Portland Art Museum’s major expansion, designed by Hennebery Eddy Architects and Vinci Hamp Architects to improve the visitor experience.
Spanning two urban blocks in downtown Portland, the museum comprises two historic buildings: the Belluschi Building, designed by Pietro Belluschi in 1932, and the Mark Building, designed by Frederick Fritsch in 1926.
The Mark Building originally served as a Masonic temple before the museum acquired it in the 1990s. Now, the local studio Hennebery Eddy Architects and Chicago-based Vinci Hamp Architects have connected the buildings with a contemporary addition while also renovating existing spaces.
Rothko Pavilion creates a new museum entrance
Named after abstract expressionist artist Mark Rothko, who grew up in Portland, the multi-storey Rothko Pavilion sits between the two historic structures.
“The pavilion establishes a new main entry and links previously discontinuous circulation and disparate floor elevations, creating an intuitive and cohesive venue for art,” the team said.
Rather than taking the form of a conventional box, the pavilion uses setbacks to create a more dynamic silhouette. A section of the ground floor has also been cut away to form a breezeway for pedestrians and cyclists.
“The passageway connects the east and west entry plazas, where key pieces from the museum’s sculpture collection are accessible to the public, establishing a uniquely Portland feature that offers passersby sheltered views into galleries and extends the museum experience into the public realm,” the team said.
The pavilion’s glazed walls are lined with long metal mullions and white ceramic frit. These details reference the historic buildings, particularly the Belluschi Building’s travertine trim and the Mark Building’s vertical architectural elements.
“The crystalline, contemporary form of the Rothko Pavilion projects a distinctly modernist character but respects its historic partners,” the team said.
A restrained interior puts art first
Inside, extensive glazing opens views toward the surrounding neighbourhood. White oak flooring defines the galleries, while granite pavers mark other areas of the pavilion.
The ground floor houses the Community Commons, a free-to-enter space conceived “as a gathering space for all”.
Meanwhile, upper-level terraces allow visitors “to step outside and take in Portland’s skyline and iconic South Park Blocks”. The green space forms a 12-block stretch through the city.
The expansion also includes renovations throughout the museum’s existing buildings, with the design focused on improving galleries in a way that “puts art first”.
In the Belluschi Building, traditional-style galleries have been refreshed. The architects also added a new volume containing an upper-floor gallery and a receiving dock below.
Within the Mark Building, the team “simplified” the galleries and updated the auditorium. A former library was also converted into a 2,700-square-foot gallery for contemporary work by emerging artists, while the library moved elsewhere in the building.
$111 million project reshapes the museum campus
Beyond exhibition spaces, the project renovated the museum café, store, conservation facilities and education departments.
According to the design team, the expansion addresses longstanding challenges while creating a more cohesive relationship between the museum and its urban surroundings.
“The $111 million expansion is one of the most significant capital investments in the arts in the history of Oregon,” the team said.
“The updated campus balances the needs of its urban neighbourhood and the city and reinforces the museum’s role as a cultural beacon of downtown Portland.”
With its contemporary pavilion, renewed galleries and expanded public spaces, the project creates a new architectural link between Portland Art Museum’s historic buildings and the city around them.