Congress Center

Congress Center is an office building in Portland featuring reflective dark glass exterior walls shaped in a hexagon rising 23 floors. The structure rests on a foundation of Spanish pink granite that forms its distinctive base.

The structure was completed in 1980 by architect firm Skidmore Owings Merrill on the site of the former Congress Hotel that operated from 1912 to 1977. This transition marked the shift from early 20th-century hotel architecture to modern office development in downtown Portland.

The building's reflective surfaces create visual connections with neighboring structures, and the preserved entrance details from its predecessor add historical character to the street level.

The building received Gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification in 2012 for implementing environmental sustainability measures throughout its structure. As an active office building, visitor access may be limited to public areas during business hours.

Original terracotta arches from the previous Congress Hotel were preserved and integrated into the entrance of a lower-level restaurant space. These salvaged elements directly connect the modern structure to its hotel predecessor.

Location: Oregon

Inception: 1980

Architects: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

Floors above the ground: 23

GPS coordinates: 45.51650,-122.68000

Latest update: December 12, 2025 14:20