Portland Building

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 19, 2025 22:49