511 Federal Building, building in Portland, Oregon, United States
The 511 Federal Building is a stone government building in Beaux-Arts style in Portland, built in 1916 and originally serving as a post office. The structure spans over 130,000 square feet and features classical details including arched windows and decorative stonework.
The building was constructed in 1916 using modern steel-frame methods shortly after the San Francisco earthquake, demonstrating advanced building design for its time. From the 1960s it served federal offices until a major restoration in the 2000s transformed it into an arts center.
The building's name comes from its address on Broadway and originally served as the city's central postal hub. Today it hosts an arts center, showing how a historic structure gains new meaning for community creativity.
Access to the building is primarily for visitors attending art exhibitions, performances and events at the arts center, with orientation available through its public spaces. The interior spaces are reached through renovated corridors and stairs, with natural light from large windows helping you navigate.
The original mail sorting room was transformed into a bright open atrium with natural light, fundamentally changing an interior that had previously been hidden behind ductwork and walls. This transformation shows how functional spaces from the past were integrated into modern requirements for contemporary artists and students.
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