inmaterial__making, learning, engaging

central eastside portland

ally maclean . TERMINAL STUDIO . 2015-2016.

The “Clinton Triangle” on the south side of the new Clinton St/ SE 12th Ave MAX sta-tion is one of many blocks in Portland’s Southeast Quadrant that is lacking in density and activity–both economically and culturally. However, with recent investments local infrastructure and municipal directives for growth and development, the site has a com-pelling potential to become a gateway to a newly vibrant and thriving neighborhood.

The driving concepts of this project are MAKING, LEARNING and ENGAGING, with the goal of catalyzing the vision set forth by the City of Portland, and ensuring that this growth is inclusive and equitable. Inspired by the area’s industrial roots and the new “doer and maker class,” these concepts will primarily be applied to the use, reuse, and reimagining of waste materials. Programatically, this application will result in three general spatial divisions: a material research and innovation lab, a material library and design build/ consultant firm, and a community material resource center and maker-space. Secondary spaces will include a career and neighborhood community center, as well as office and retail.

portland_____clinton triangle, southeast quadrant

preface__

all_things_material____project statement

In the past 50 years, humans have consumed more resources than in all previous history. 1

The average American consumes more than 46,000 pounds of materials in a year. 2

That is the equivalent of 23 full dump trucks worth of materials for every man, woman, and child in the country. 3

...and by 2050, there will be 50 percent more people, 500 percent more economic activity, and 300 percent more materials needed.4

in the subsequent report all pertain to innovative science and research--strategies that are not about changing how we use and dispose of materials, but how to make them better in the first place. These involve developing green chemistry practices, bio-based material research, and bio-inspired (i.e., biomimmicry) design to replace the highly toxic, inefficient and intensive processes embed-ded in everything we make.

As such, the progammatic anchor of this project is a ma-terial research lab. The addition of the material design and consulting firm connects those on the forefront of new ideas with those who can apply and promote them, connecting fellow consumers with sustainable solutions and inspiring more responsible practices with their own body of work. Meanwhile, the material exchange facility and makerspace promote the imaginative use, reuse and maximization of the products and resources we already have, activating the growth of a diverse and local eco-nomic ecosystem--with support from the office commons and neighborhood center.

Making, learning and engaging are critical pieces to a thriving whole. Matters of all things material provide a fitting medium through which to apply these concepts to the Southeast Quadrant: both as a demonstration for ac-cessible, perceptible change and a fertile environment for local participation and collective growth.

1 Reflections on the PopTech Ecomaterials Innovation Lab

2 Stephens, Jack. “Live Lightly on the Earth – Statistics that Teach,” Natural Building Network (July 21, 2009). http://nbnetwork.org/2786

3 Reflections on the PopTech Ecomaterials Innovation Lab. “Based on a standard, dual-axle commercial dump truck with a maximum load-bearing capacity of ten short tons.”

4 Allen, Derry, et al. Sustainable Materials Management: The Road Ahead, (Washington, D.C.: United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2009), p. 8.

5 Geiser, Ken, Materials Matter: Toward a Sustainable Materials Policy (Cambridge: MIT Press, 2001).

These are just a few of countless figures that tell the same dire story, one that we probably hear almost every day and that only seems to get longer with each telling. Strangely, the tangled plot of messy historical chapters and contested futures is so huge, so global, that it is actually quite easy to ignore on a personal, everyday scale.

Still, as a student and eventual professional in an industry that, by some accounts, consumes 40% of the world’s energy and resources, it would be irre-sponsible not to acknowledge and attempt to ad-dress at least one facet of the story--and materials matter.5 Issues of consumption, performance, and impact are all the more relevant in a place on the verge of growth and enterprise, both new and revi-talized: a place like Southeast Portland. It is espe-cially fitting that this area is the heart of the city’s in-dustrial history--a messy but formative experience that all American cities share.

This project is not the solution, but the theme is in-spired by those trying to solve it. In 20, the non-profit group PopTech hosted an Ecomaterials Innovation Lab, a conference of diverse experts and vision-aries to discuss, share, and ideate new develop-ments and opportunities for material use and pro-cesses. The most notable and inspiring strategies

References

program__

iterate

discuss

analyze

7 000

library admin/supportstudio meeting

DESIGN/CONSULTING FIRM

21 200

lab meeting admin/supportlounge/kitchen

RESEARCH LAB

10 800

admin/supportdisplay/ storage

RE-USE + EXCHANGE FACILITY

6 000

shop+classroom display admin/ support

COMMUNITY STUDIO+MAKERSPACE

5 300

work+meeting kitchen admin/ support

OFFICE COMMONS

2 100

meeting kitchen admin/ support

NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER

1 400 x 8

floor admin

RETAIL SHOPS

TBD GREEN SPACE

design firm

research

lab

makerspace

exchange

facility

office

commons

retail

studio

library

meetingspaces

materialgallery

admin/support

closed labs

open labs

conference

write-up/ prep

lounge/ kitchen workshop

creativegallery

retail

tech bridge

admin/ support

admin/support

classrooms

shared workspace

private workspaces

conference

lounge/ kitchen

meetingspaces

resourceshowroom

lounge/ kitchen

neighborhood

centeriterate

discuss

analyze

7 000

library admin/supportstudio meeting

DESIGN/CONSULTING FIRM

21 200

lab meeting admin/supportlounge/kitchen

RESEARCH LAB

10 800

admin/supportdisplay/ storage

RE-USE + EXCHANGE FACILITY

6 000

shop+classroom display admin/ support

COMMUNITY STUDIO+MAKERSPACE

5 300

work+meeting kitchen admin/ support

OFFICE COMMONS

2 100

meeting kitchen admin/ support

NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER

1 400 x 8

floor admin

RETAIL SHOPS

TBD GREEN SPACE

program_____overview + concept

design firm

research

lab

makerspace

exchange

facility

office

commons

retail

neighborhood

center

left a job in the financial industry to make jewelry for her etsy shop full-time, and is now learning more heavy-duty metalworking for furniture application.

maximizes her time in the triangle by using the office commons to run her shop and occasionally meet former clients for freelance consulting

craftswoman

studio instructormoved to portland a few years ago after obtaining a masters in computer and information science, works at a nearby software company and teaches in the tech bridge on weekends.

has a passion for clockmaking and also uses the workshop on weeknights--is looking forward to more nightlife activity as the neighborhood develops.

facility managerrecently retired community college professor and longtime resident of the neighborhood, still actively involved in commu-nity matters

enjoys his new routine of facility manager, where he can interact with local crafters and has more time to pursue his cabinetry hobby at the makerspace.

material specialistused to manage the apparel textiles lab for Nike, recently joined the firm as material manager and moved across quadrants for SE’s industrial character.runs a DIY blog and loves scaveng-ing vintage stores and the new exchange facility for project inspiration

research chemistproponent of green chemistry, interested in developing bio-based polymers for scaleable commer-cial applications (insulation, packaging, etc.)

rides to work on the new MAX line early in the morning, and wouldn’t mind seeing a few more coffee shops and fellow commuters

material design+consultant firm

material research lab

material re-use+exchange facility

community studio+ makerspace

office commons

neighborhood center

retail shops (x 8)

green space

studio/ workstationsmaterial librarycharrette/ meetinggallery/ receptionadmin/ officessupport

closed labopen lab - wetopen lab - dryconference rmswrite-up/ preplounge/ kitchenstorageadmin/ officessupport

storage/ displayadmin/ officessupport

workshopgalleryretailtech bridgeclassroomsadmin/ officessupportstorage

shared workspaceprivate workspacesconference rmslounge/ kitchenadminsupport

event/ meeting hallconferencekitchenadminsupport

floor spacesupport

20003000

800500400300

2000500050001600180020002000

8001000

10 000400400

1800800800500

1000300300500

20001000

8001000

200300

800800200150150

1400300

play spaceopen space

TBDTBD

program_____spatial requirements

__programcharacter personas

context__

context______features of the central eastside

from the Southeast Quadrant Plan:

Residential Development There is ample room for residential growth along the mixed use corridors in the area.

The SE Quadrant is projected to grow by 2,500 households and 9,000 jobs by 2035, for a total of 3,500 households and 26,000 jobs.

Growth

map: current Eastside residential zon-ing density, highlighting the mixed-used corridors where new household development will be concentrated, while most of the Southeast Quadrant will remain solely an employment/ in-dustrial area.

single dwelling--R5 / R7 / R10 / R20

attached residential--R2.5

multi-dwelling (low-med. density)--R1 / R2

multi-dwelling (high density)/ central residential--RH / RX

central employment(planned mixed-use corridor)--EX

industrial sanctuary--IG1 / IG2

southeast quadrantclinton triangle

N

context______features of the central eastide

from the Southeast Quadrant Plan:

Central Location The district’s proximity to downtown and industrial, institutional, cultural and other urban amenities makes it attractive to new and established businesses.

With the completion of the new transit bridge and associated infra-structure improvements, the inner transportation circle around the Wil-lamette River will be complete.

Improved access

map: an interpretive image of the South-east Quadrant as a synaptic node, where transport networks condense and intertwine before darting out to oth-er areas of the city.

clinton triangle

major freight routes

designated bike routes

N

SE 12TH ST

SE 7TH ST

GRAND AVE

SE 3RD ST

cascade energy engineering

at large films

alta planning + design

transfer online

virtual native

paci�c coast fruit co.

pitman

restaurant equipm

ent

senvoy

isla bikes

stumptow

n dist.

american

metal

products

plywerk

green ham

mer

pratt + larsontile + stone

school specialty

simple bicycles

MANUFACTURING

radius com

munity

art studio

AD

X

yale union art center

rhino digital printingm

adeira inc

jimm

y’s tire retail + creative o�

ces

independent publishing resource ctr

dairy bldg retail + creative o�

ces

shop people m

aker space

columbia

art+drafting

ash street art center

zimbabw

e artists project

7th+lincoln retail+creative o�

ces

gamblin

artists colorshand + hide

blaq paks

allan bldg retail + creative o�

ces

KNOWLEDGE + DESIGN

PCC CLIMB center

benson polytechnic high

abernathy elem

entary

buckman

elementary

northwest

woodw

orking school

OM

SI

LEARNING + EDUCATIONWAREHOUSING + DIST. MANUFACTURING

winks hardw

are

sanderson safety supply

gilbertson m

achine shop

star equipm

ent rentals

urs electronics

INDUSTRIAL SERVICES

context______features of the central eastide

from the Southeast Quadrant Plan:

New Industrial Users A cadre of “doers and makers” is establishing new workspaces in this district alongside longstanding man-ufacturers, creating synergy among old and new industrial operations.

New development indicates the SE Quadrant is poised to become a ma-jor contributor to the Central City as a center for innovation and exchange.

The challenge will be to protect tra-ditional industries that serve the re-gion while creating new spaces for emerging industries and prototypes — as well as defining new places for residents, workers and visitors to en-joy.

Innovation

map: a snapshot of a few selected busi-nesses and activities in the Southeast Quadrant, illustrating a connective net-work and diverse economic ecosystem.

Diverse Needs

N

MAX stopclinton / SE 12th

N

context______site information

1210-1226 GIDEONIG-1 // WAREHOUSEbuilt 1969

1238 GIDEONIG-1 // GARAGEbuilt 1963

1240 GIDEONIG-1 // WAREHOUSEbuilt 2007

1280 GIDEONIG-1 // COMMERCIALbuilt 1970

1280 GIDEONIG-1 // WAREHOUSEbuilt 1907

2915 13TH PLCG, IG-1 // MISC.built 1961

1195 13TH PLCG // RESTAURANTbuilt 1967

1155 POWELLCG, IG-1 // MISC.

built 1983

2856 MILWAUKEECG, IG-1 // MISC.

built 1910

total bldg sq. fttotal site sq. ft

65, 858212, 600

This project will focus on a single block in the Clinton Triangle, but there is an opportunity to create a long-term, multi-phase vision for development along the MAX rail line (left). The highlighted lots are currently unoccupied and/ or un-der-utilized; one can imagine these spaces becoming clusters of nodes along the edge of the Triangle/ SE Quadrant, activating further growth from the outside in. For now, the image on the right details the cur-rent zoning and uses of the initial site.

GIDEON ST : FLEXIBLEsuggested ground floor character typology

MILWAUKEE/ POWELL: RETAILsuggested ground floor character

typology

on bridges rare connections // tenuous links on opacity inaccessible interiors

on segmentation real divisions // idea clusters on exposure density+vitality // bareness+stillness

on pallete visual conformitys i t e d i a g r a m s v.01 // 10.14.15

THRIVING through MAKING

on bridges rare connections // tenuous links on opacity inaccessible interiors

on segmentation real divisions // idea clusters on exposure density+vitality // bareness+stillness

on pallete visual conformitys i t e d i a g r a m s v.01 // 10.14.15

THRIVING through MAKING

on bridges rare connections // tenuous links on opacity inaccessible interiors

on segmentation real divisions // idea clusters on exposure density+vitality // bareness+stillness

on pallete visual conformitys i t e d i a g r a m s v.01 // 10.14.15

THRIVING through MAKING

on bridges rare connections // tenuous links on opacity inaccessible interiors

on segmentation real divisions // idea clusters on exposure density+vitality // bareness+stillness

on pallete visual conformitys i t e d i a g r a m s v.01 // 10.14.15

THRIVING through MAKING

on bridges rare connections // tenuous links on opacity inaccessible interiors

on segmentation real divisions // idea clusters on exposure density+vitality // bareness+stillness

on pallete visual conformitys i t e d i a g r a m s v.01 // 10.14.15

THRIVING through MAKING

At this initial stage of site research, I wanted to take advantage the fact that I know very little of the area in order to identify and articulate my different perceptions and personal impressions. However, one persistent word kept infiltrating each distinct interpretive lens that I attempted to channel: LIMITED. For instance, a focus on bridges is not so unique for Portland (I do at least know this much), but in my mind’s eye the site surroundings took on the boundaries and limitations of where I felt safe to walk. I mentally reconstructed two islands of pedestrian accessibility, cut off and separated by busy streets, railways and water--with fragile but important “bridge” paths in between. Furthermore, the built environment felt mostly closed off and inaccessible because of the limited opacities of their public-facing facades. As such, I found it difficult to imagine the life and activities behind the blank and unglazed facades that dominated my memory. A focus on segmentation represents the distinct parceling of the urban grid that begins to explain the differences in character on either side of the “bridges” (residential squares and industrial rectangles). Here I imagined new clusters of activity blooming along the “river” of the rail line, creating new nodes of activities and pathways between. Here, the limits and divisions of the site become an opportunity to create a dynamic edge. But I would be remiss not to emphasize the strong sense of exposure I felt while traversing this edge in its current state, due to a lack of building density or any sense of a vertical “forest” (either through literal landscape or in the figurative sense of man-made structure). On palette is another expression of this bareness and conformity, this time in the sense of visual stimulation that I felt (or didn’t feel) in the expanse of concrete, a few patches of texture and greenery, and the sky above--as yet unmet by any significant landmark or monument from the ground below.

___objectivesgoals and questions for the central eastside

selected from the Southeast Quadrant Plan:

Strengthen places Approach the design of the Clinton Triangle as a gateway to a unique neighborhood a trend-setter for thoughtful development, and a nex-us for increasing economic and cul-tural density.

Develop a variety of outdoor spac-es for social interaction, healthy play and enjoyable transit.

Study and test various ways to ad-dress the Triangle’s drastically differ-ent north and south streetscapes, in order to find a way to ease the tran-sition between the two.

Improve the human-scale experi-ence of the area, using the City’s proposed typologies as a starting point.

Incorporate principles and ideas from thesis research. A few relevant considerations include: designing durable, performative spaces, allow

Integrate open spaces and green systems

The facing page is a documentation of initial impressions and thoughts from the first site visit. This personal analysis certainly corroborates the importance of these objectives set forth by the city, all of which would help improve and enhance the human experience of the Triangle/ Southeast Quadrant

Improve connections across barriers

Strengthen ground floor edges

Material responsibility and responsiveness

for efficiency of building use (i.e., multi-functionality), reuse and/ or adapt current structures and site conditions, and, finally, take advan-tage of the didactic potential of build-ings as examples of responsible en-ergy and material use.

context______initial site impressions

site visit impressions // 10. 11. 2015

resources_

© Manuel Salinas

© Husos

host and nectar garden buildingHUSOS // cali, columbia // 2012

This project turns the hybrid live/ work space into an inter-human and in-

ter-species--with the goal of uplifting not only the local community but its

unique ecology and biological corridors. While there certainly are apart-

ments and studios for local artisans, the building is just as much an educator

as it is an incubator. The entire structure is enveloped in a green facade, filled

with bushes, climbers, and flora for native birds and butterflies--a guiding

model for a bio-safehouse (not to mention a great indoor climate regulator

and energy savings device). The architects ingeniously used the garden as

a multimedia device, fully immersing the inhabitants and visitors in all of its

sensory outputs. This fosters understanding and a sense of responsibility for

the community; locals can attend workshops and take home seeds to help

grow the network of biological corridors with their own gardens. Finally, the

unique building and its resident butterflies is used on labels and marketing

materials for Cali products, building the community’s global brand identity.

relevant concepts/ takeaways

-inspiring creative work through vibrant living spaces

-building as educator, both for community awareness/ participation and sus-

tainable lifestyle model

-ownership of workspace and community

-fluid circulation and inviting environment of ground floor

PRECEDENTS______

a l l e n i n s t i t u t ePERKINS+WILL // seattle, washington // 2015

From the architect. The 270,000-square-foot life science building is six

stories tall and includes about 9,000 square feet of ground floor retail space

as well as four levels of subterranean parking. The design orients labs like

flower petals around a large light-filled central atrium; the effect is like the

inside of a bee hive where researchers can see each other and what they

are doing, making the space more collaborative, flexible, and transparent.

Offices, open space, and interacting stairs enable chance en-

counters between colleagues and staff, helping build community.

Usually tucked-away lab work is made transparent and visi-

ble from the exterior via materials such as perforated shad-

ing and woven metal embedded within the glass façade.

Through an energy modeling of building systems, Perkins+Will was able to

achieve a very high degree of exterior transparency. At 56-percent, it is al-

most double Seattle’s maximum requirements. The space includes wet and

dry labs, a data center, auditorium, atrium, and collaborative working spaces.

relevant concepts/ takeaways

-collaborative research and collective learning

-high performance strategy, both for energy and spatial programming

-innovations and developments in lab design

-building as hub and hive

PRECEDENTS______

high-performance “artificial leaf”/ advanced solar cell

biomimmicry: photosynthesis

Dr. Daniel Nocera, MIT NoceraLab

chicken feather and soybean oil-based circuit board

bio-based materials: tech

Dr. Richard Wool, Univ. of Delaware

mushroom-grown “plywood”/ particle board

bio-based materials: millwork

Ecovative

single-sheet metal desk

minimization: manufacturing

Formtank

recycled neoprene wetsuit laptop case

reuse: upcycling

Looptworks

INSPIRATION___