Skylab recently completed an innovative, mixed-use building in Portland, Oregon. 'Sideyard' was designed as a working-class building aimed at public transportation connectivity, pedestrian openness, and bicycle priority access.
"Sideyard celebrates a connection to Portland and the broader Pacific Northwest," commented Jill Asselineau, Project Director. "Skylab purposely employed materials and techniques distinct to this time and place."
The 20,000sf wedge-shaped building features a new CLT structural system with an open ground level commuter oriented retail environments geared toward guests and tenants. On the exterior, the workspace above is wrapped in brick masonry with the building acting as an anchor for the Burnside Bridge and a gateway to Portland's eastside community. The project is next to YARD / Knot Springs, also designed by the Portland-based firm.
"Cross laminated timber is a new and sustainable building material that celebrates the inherent structural qualities of wood," Asselineau added. "This material was championed by the general contractor for its regional relevance, availability, and simplicity of assemblage. Employing this mass timber system saved on both time and labor expenses. The project also used mass plywood for the interior stair structure, landings and treads. This project is one of the first to employ and elegantly demonstrate the potential of this wood product."
Photography: Stephen Miller