Flatiron Building

The Flatiron Building is a five-story mixed-use timber structure with dark gray metal cladding and rectangular windows at the corner of Cook and Burnside in North Portland. The structure combines cross-laminated timber floors with concrete toppings and uses wooden columns to support open loft spaces.

The building was designed by Frederick Manson White in the Chicago School style and draws inspiration from the Manhattan building of the same name from 1902. The construction merges modern timber methods with traditional design principles from early turn-of-the-century skyscrapers.

The building displays contemporary design principles through its slender triangular form, which recalls iconic New York architecture and fits naturally into Portland's urban fabric.

The building sits at a directional shift in the city grid, making it easy for visitors to locate and recognize. Parking spaces are located in the basement, while retail areas occupy the ground floor and office spaces fill the upper levels.

The triangular shape of the building results in three independent facades instead of the usual four, creating an unusual architectural effect. Double cantilever balconies at the corners give the structure a distinctive and recognizable feature.

Location: Portland

Architects: Frederick Manson White

Architectural style: Chicago School

GPS coordinates: 45.52284,-122.68370

Latest update: December 13, 2025 11:40