Standard Plaza

Standard Plaza is a 16-story high-rise building in downtown Portland that anchors a city block between Fifth and Sixth avenues. The structure features a clean, geometric design with wide glass facades and ground-level commercial spaces typical of mid-century office towers.

The building was constructed in the early 1960s during Portland's downtown modernization efforts. It emerged from post-war development that transformed the city's central business district with contemporary office architecture.

The International Style building, designed by Skidmore Owings Merrill, represents the architectural evolution of Portland during the mid-twentieth century urban development.

The building sits in central Portland at the intersection of Main and Madison streets, making it easy to reach by foot from most downtown locations. A parking garage with hundreds of spaces operates within the building, so visitors can park directly on-site.

The rooftop features a large weather beacon that glows and changes based on National Weather Service data. This beacon has served as a quirky landmark for locals and visitors trying to predict Portland's notoriously unpredictable weather.

Location: Oregon

Architects: Skidmore Owings Merrill

Floors above the ground: 16

GPS coordinates: 45.51600,-122.68000

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:46