Portland Building, Postmodern office building in Portland, United States
Portland Building is a 15-story tower block in downtown Portland that stands out for its postmodern architecture and serves as a municipal office building. The facade displays bold colors and square ornaments, while the ground floor provides a public arcade lined with columns.
Michael Graves designed this structure in 1982 as a response to the functional high-rises of the postwar era, bringing color and decoration back into public architecture. Its completion sparked an international debate about what modern government buildings should look like.
The building takes its name from the city itself and houses municipal offices where residents come daily to request permits or ask about local government matters. Its colorful facade elements and geometric patterns remain visible from the street below, often drawing curious glances from passersby.
The entrance lobby is open to visitors on weekdays who wish to access city services or explore the ground floor area. Those wanting to view the exterior facade should find a vantage point across the street to take in the proportions properly.
The structure appeared on a United States postage stamp in 2005 that honored postmodern architecture across the country. Few know that the original ceramic tiles on the facade were removed, cataloged, and reinstalled during renovation to preserve its appearance.
Location: Portland
Inception: 1982
Architects: Michael Graves
Official opening: October 2, 1982
Architectural style: postmodern architecture
Floors above the ground: 15
Height: 70.41 m
GPS coordinates: 45.51550,-122.67900
Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:24
Postmodern architecture emerged in the 1970s as a response to the rigid principles of modernism, reintroducing color, ornament, and historical references into contemporary building design. The movement evolved over decades, producing structures that challenge conventional forms and experiment with different materials and surfaces. These buildings demonstrate varied approaches to design, from playful facades to complex geometric constructions, showing how architects employ new technologies while engaging with historical stylistic elements. The collection includes cultural institutions such as the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and Casa da Música in Porto, public buildings like Seattle Central Library and Almere City Hall, and religious structures such as the Jubilee Church in Rome. Other examples include the SIS Building in London, Dancing House in Prague, and Niterói Contemporary Art Museum in Rio de Janeiro. The Louvre Pyramid in Paris and the Wexner Center for the Arts in Columbus show different interpretations of postmodern principles. The Piazza d'Italia in New Orleans with its colored colonnades and the Portland Building with its decorated facade represent early postmodern works in the United States.
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