What's New
What's New and Different in Portland, Oregon — 2007
How to cover something new in Portland? Let us count the ways.
- Attractions/Arts & Culture: Museum of Contemporary Craft; Portland Center Stage; Oregon Zoo
Attractions/Arts & Culture
Museum of Contemporary Craft Reopens in New Space
On July 22, 2007, the Museum of Contemporary Craft reopened in its new home alongside Portland's North Park Blocks. This new location doubles the size of the 70-year-old museum, providing generous space for the museum's permanent collection, an assemblage of more than 1,000 craft objects, including works in ceramic, glass, metal, fiber and wood. The galleries will also support significant traveling exhibitions and large-scale installations. Of special importance to convention and meeting planners, the new space will offer flexible, dedicated room for lectures, artist demonstrations, tours and special events. The museum's new location is at 724 N.W. Davis St., Portland, Ore. 97209; 503.223.2654.
Wendy Miller, Museum of Contemporary Craft, 724 N.W. Davis St., Portland, Ore. 97209; 503.223.2654, ext. 225; wendy@contemporarycrafts.org; www.contemporarycrafts.org
Portland Center Stage Moves to Portland’s Historic Armory Building
With its turrets and faux parapets, the Historic Portland Armory building looks like a castle. The new royalty residing within are the cast and crew of Portland Center Stage, a 20-year-old arts company that has evolved to become a major player on Portland’s arts scene. The company’s dream of finding its own performance space was realized in September 2006 following a $36.1 million renovation of Portland’s historic 1891 armory. The building, located in the Pearl District and accessible from downtown via the Portland Streetcar, has a dramatic façade and a cavernous main room that made the structure perfect for theatrical endeavors. In typical Portland fashion, the armory’s renovation was completed as a pioneering “green” project. The Armory is the only building on the National Register of Historic Places to achieve a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum rating. Even the new name of the theater reflects green sensibilities: the Gerding Theater at the Armory honors Bob Gerding, one of Portland’s visionary green developers, and his wife, Diana Gerding.
Thom Trick, Portland Center Stage, Gerding Theater at the Armory, 128 N.W. 11th Ave., Portland, Ore. 97205; 503.445.3765 (direct); 503.445.3700 (box office); thomt@pcs.org; www.pcs.org; www.pcs.org
Oregon Zoo’s Black Bear Ridge Opens
The March 2007 opening of Black Bear Ridge marked the completion of a 10-year, $36 million project to create the Oregon Zoo’s massive “Great Northwest” exhibit. This multifaceted exhibit – designed to foster respect for and stewardship of the Northwest’s diverse ecosystems – offers a journey from the crests of the Cascade mountains to the shores of the Pacific Ocean. Within the Great Northwest experience are Cascade Crest, featuring mountains and mountain goats; Cascade Canyon Trail, with a suspension bridge kids will go nuts for; Eagle Canyon, telling the stories of the bald eagle and endangered salmon; Cougar Crossing, with its namesake big cats; Trillium Creek Family Farm, where children can visit the barn to pet goats and sheep; Elk Meadow, home to majestic elk; Steller Cove, whose above and below-water viewing areas introduce visitors to sea otters, fish and Steller’s sea lions; and, finally, Black Bear Ridge.
One of the best ways to see the roaming residents of Black Bear Ridge is from the Cascade Canyon Trail’s 100-foot-long suspension bridge, which gives visitors a bird’s-eye view of the bears. Sharing this newly opened area of zoo with the bears are several bobcats. The design and construction of Black Bear Ridge was completed with sustainability and animal interests in mind. For example, black bears are great climbers, so it was considered essential to not remove the existing trees during construction. The bobcats also received a few perks, including an overturned tree stump transformed into a heated den.
Bill LaMarche, Oregon Zoo, 4001 S.W. Canyon Road, Portland, Ore. 97221; 503.220.2448 (direct), 503.226.1561, ext. 0 (main zoo number); lamarcheb@metro.dst.or.us; www.oregonzoo.org
Hotels
Kimpton’s Hotel Monaco Portland - formerly the 5th Avenue Suites Hotel – named Portland’s #1 hotel and one of the “Top 500 Hotels in the World” by Travel + Leisure magazine – became a Kimpton Hotel Monaco in February 2007. The hotel’s transformation included a $4 million upgrade of the existing 5th Avenue Suites property. This isn’t the first time the building housing the hotel has seen dramatic changes. Constructed in 1912, the building originally served as an upscale downtown Portland department store. In 1996 the historic building reopened as a 221-suite luxury boutique property.
The new Hotel Monaco Portland joins seven other Kimpton Monaco hotels in such cities as San Francisco, Chicago and Washington, D.C. Known for their classical, urbane style and guest-pampering services, Monaco hotels also develop their own personalities: each property features design elements that pay tribute to the hotel’s original architecture and locale. While adding new amenities, the Hotel Monaco Portland will retain the 5th Avenue Suites’ on-site Aveda spa and complimentary fireside wine tastings each evening. The Hotel Monaco Portland will have the same contact information as the 5th Avenue Suites: 506 S.W. Washington St., Portland, Ore.; 503.222.0001. www.monaco-portland.com
Lisa Donoughe, P.R. Account Representative for the Hotel Monaco Portland, 503.827.6564, lisa@ladcommunications.com
In February 2007 the Ace Hotel Group opened a 79-room property in downtown Portland. The project, a renovation/transformation of an older hotel, will be a sister property to the original Ace Hotel Seattle. With room rates ranging from $85-$195 per night, the Ace is designed to appeal to travelers who crave quality but who are also mindful of their budgets. This demographic includes a growing class of creative professionals in the 25-50-age range who travel widely for business and pleasure. According to Ace co-founder Alex Calderwood – who, along with his partners, recently landed on a Time magazine list of top 100 innovators – the Ace Portland is the reinvention of “a classic downtown hotel, restoring a sense of history and place while reinterpreting those details for a sense of modern bohemia.” In accordance with Portland’s green philosophy, the Ace renovation project used recycled and/or eco-friendly materials. Among some of the “greenier” things guests will notice are couches upholstered with fabric salvaged from old U.S. Army rain cloaks, desks and tables made from reclaimed timber, and the on-site Stumptown Coffee Roasters coffee shop (Stumptown, a local chain, is dedicated to sustainable practices). The Ace Hotel Portland is located at 1022 S.W. Stark St., Portland, Ore. 97205; 503.228.2277; www.acehotel.com.
Ryan Bukstein, Media Relations, Ace Hotel Group, 503.228.2277, ryan@neverstop.com, www.acehotel.com
A 331-room Luxury Collection Hotel (Starwood Hotels & Resorts) is scheduled to open in downtown Portland in summer 2008. Known as “The Nines,” the hotel will occupy the top nine floors of the historic Meier & Frank Building; a stylishly renovated Macy’s department store will fill the building’s lower five levels. A key component of the $118 million project is transforming the top floors of the former department from a solid box to a hollow square. The creation of this atrium will give all of the hotel rooms – even those on the interior – access to a view and natural light. The interior rooms will overlook the glass-roofed lobby area, while the exterior rooms will enjoy city views. The hotel’s plans also call for an atrium restaurant on the lobby level, a rooftop lounge, a 7,000-square-foot ballroom, and 7,000 square feet of additional conference, meeting and banquet facilities. An elevator lobby on the Morrison Street side of the building will provide dedicated access to the 8th floor’s grand lobby. The address for the new hotel will be 525 S.W. Morrison St., Portland, Ore. 97204.
For the project’s eco-conscious renovation efforts, the developer, Sage Hospitality Resources, is seeking LEED Silver Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. While still preserving the elegant detailing of the 1908 Meier & Frank Building, Sage was still able to incorporate water-conservation plumbing, which will save some 400,000 gallons of water per year, as well as energy-efficient mechanical systems. The Nines will also contract with renewable energy sources and, when open, implement a “green housekeeping” policy.
For decades after its opening, the Meier & Frank Department Store was one of the largest retail outlets west of the Mississippi. In 2005, Meier & Frank, whose original Portland store had opened in 1857, was acquired by Macy’s. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Meier & Frank Building was designed by Portland architect A. E. Doyle and is one of the earliest examples of a terra-cotta-type commercial palace.
In addition to the renovation work taking place inside the building, visitors will notice activity on the street outside. TriMet, the region’s transportation authority, is adding a new light rail line in downtown Portland. The new line is also scheduled to be completed in 2008. It will run along downtown Portland’s Fifth and Sixth avenues, linking historic Union Station (Amtrak) on the north side of town to Portland State University, located on downtown Portland’s southern side.
Susanne Voeltz, P.R. Account Representative for Sage Hospitality Resources, 608.284.0848, susi@mailbag.com
aloft Hotel Breaks Ground in Portland
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., and its new lifestyle brand — aloft hotels (the brand is expressed entirely in lowercase letters) — has partnered with Pollin Hotels III to break ground on Oregon's first aloft hotel. The 136-room property, scheduled to open in late summer 2008, is being constructed at Cascade Station, a mixed-use commercial development near the Portland International Airport (PDX). When completely built out, Cascade Station will include hotels, retail space, restaurants and offices. The area is already connected to both downtown Portland and PDX via the region's MAX light rail system. Pollin Hotels III currently owns the Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel and the Hampton Inn Portland Airport, both located close to the Cascade Station development.
The Portland aloft project will reflect a concept developed by the creators of the luxury W hotels. Currently, the design for the hotel calls for loft-like nine-foot ceilings and oversized windows, which will create a bright, airy environment; ultra-comfortable signature beds; stylish bathrooms with oversized walk-in showers; and high-tech office/entertainment centers featuring wireless Internet, "plug-and-play" (a one-stop connectivity solution for multiple electronic devices), and flat-panel high-definition television sets for optimal sound and viewing. The hotel will also have a pool, on-site restaurant and other amenities. The physical address for the property will be 9920 N.E. Cascades Parkway, Portland, Ore. 97220. For more information, visit www.alofthotels.com.
Lisa Donoughe, P.R. Account Representative for aloft hotel, 503.827.6564, lisa@ladcommunications.com
Benson Hotel’s Mayfair Ballroom Undergoes Major Renovation
On Sept. 23, Portland’s historic Benson Hotel will unveil its transformation of the nearly 6,000-square-foot Mayfair Ballroom. Unlike the Benson’s elegant lobby and other public spaces, which have a rich, classic European look, the Mayfair Ballroom originally was more colonial in design. This renovation – in addition to adding several technological improvements – will match the ballroom’s design to the elegance of the rest of the hotel.
The renovated Mayfair Ballroom will feature recessed alabaster chandeliers whose design allows for an increase in the usable ceiling height, rich Axminster carpets, and new stage drapery. The makeover also incorporates such modern accommodations as acoustic-panel air walls that can divide the room into equal halves and a sound system engineered specifically for the Mayfair. An impressive lighting package, which can be adjusted to accommodate multiple tastes and event needs, was also carefully selected for the ballroom.
The Mayfair is the largest of the Benson Hotel’s meeting spaces. The hotel is located at 309 S.W. Broadway, Portland, Ore. 97205. For more information, visit www.bensonhotel.com.
Dave Spacek, Director of Sales & Marketing, Benson Hotel, 503.219.6710, dspacek@bensonhotel.com
Transportation
New MAX Light Rail Line Under Construction
When it comes to sustainable mass transit systems, bigger really is better. TriMet, the Portland area’s regional transit authority, is currently expanding its popular MAX (Metropolitan Area Express) light rail train system. The existing 44-mile light rail network is already hugely popular with visitors: MAX’s Red Line connects Portland International Airport to downtown (a 37-minute ride on luggage-friendly low-floor trains); the Blue Line links upper Washington Park (home to the Oregon Zoo, Portland Children’s Museum, the World Forestry Discovery Museum and Hoyt Arboretum) to the central city (10-minute ride); and the Yellow Line transports trade show attendees from the downtown Portland hotel core to the Portland Expo Center (34-minute ride).
The new line – dubbed the “Green Line” – will open in fall 2009 and connect Portland’s historic Union Station (Amtrak) to the campus of Portland State University (PSU). This north-south route will travel through the central city, making it a breeze for arriving Amtrak passengers to access the downtown hotels. Portland’s visitor information center, which is located at Pioneer Courthouse Square, will be one of the stops (approximately a five-minute ride) on the line. Best of all: The downtown portion of the Green Line – from Union Station to PSU – lies entirely within “Fareless Square,” Portland’s ride-for-free transit zone. That means that all rides are free to all riders at all times.
Construction of the future Green Line includes not just the laying of track along downtown Portland’s Fifth and Sixth avenues. It also encompasses significant street improvements: installation of public art, refurbished roadways and sidewalks, bike lanes, additional lighting and new shelters.
Mary Fetsch, Director of Communications, TriMet, 503.962.6403, fetschm@trimet.org, www.portlandmall.org or www.trimet.org.
In January 2007 Portland joined an elite group of U.S. destinations with an aerial tramway. Portland’s new aerial tram is now carrying both local residents and visitors between downtown Portland’s South Waterfront District and Marquam Hill, where the Oregon Health & Science University campus is located. Designed primarily as a neighborhood connector that allows commuters to forgo using cars, the $57 million tram – much like the hugely popular Portland Streetcar – has proven to be an equal hit with tourists. As the gondolas make their three-minute journey from the South Waterfront to Marquam Hill, riders enjoy picture-perfect views of the Willamette River, Mount Hood and downtown Portland. Each bubble-inspired tram car is designed to hold 79 passengers. Other U.S. aerial trams include the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway and the Roosevelt Island Tram.
Portland’s two tram gondolas are named “Walt” and “Jean.” “Walt” pays tribute to Walt Reynolds, the first African-American to graduate from OHSU; “Jean” honors Jean Richardson, Oregon’s first female engineering graduate from Oregon State University. Names were also chosen for the two tram stations: The station atop Marquam Hill is called Chameffu, which means “on the mountain” in the native Tualatin language; the station at South Waterfront is named Chamanchal, a Tualatin word meaning “on the water.”
Gerri Lutes, Media Manager, OHSU, 503.494.4156, lutesg@ohsu.com, www.portlandtram.org
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