Water Tower

Reimagining a Portland icon

Water Tower is an iconic building in Portland’s John’s Landing neighborhood. It was built in 1903 as a furniture warehouse for the Portland/Biltwell Furniture Company and since that time has evolved to be a mixed-use office and retail complex. Scott Edwards Architecture’s renovation design focuses on preserving elements of the building’s past, like heavy timber beams and its namesake water tower, while updating the space for modern tenancy needs. Bright, open interior spaces and engaging, multi-purpose exterior areas create a welcoming environment for visitors and tenants alike.

Client
SKB

Location
Portland, OR

Size
150,000 sf

Year
Coming Early 2024

Separate tenant entries on far side of building

Water Tower is a two-building, 123,000 sf complex occupying a full city block along the bustling Macadam Avenue. Our design increases the visibility of Water Tower from the street by removing signage and masonry that blocked it from view. The revitalized entry plaza has wooden seating, concrete planters, walking paths, and an enhanced courtyard. These outdoor amenities are designed to increase pedestrian-friendly accessibility and facilitate outdoor events.

Render of tenant space and murals at entry

The west end of the building is envisioned as a multi-tenant marketplace where artisans can display their wares in a covered, open-air setting. Abundant common seating complements the tenant spaces, providing space to gather on market day or lounge with your favorite beverage while escaping the northwest drizzle.

Inside Water Tower, beams are salvaged and repurposed as furniture for use both inside and outside the building. Solid interior walls are replaced with full-height windows allowing natural daylight to flow throughout the commercial space. Whenever possible, we uncover existing structure to highlight the building’s turn-of-the-century past.

The design also provides more amenity space within the building, adding a meeting room, refreshing the restrooms, and increasing the number of common break-out areas. The building core is opened up to develop informal seating and gathering areas around a central staircase, providing continuity between adjacent floor levels.