Central Lofts
Portland, OR
- Award Year
- 2023
- Award Category
- Multi-Family Wood Design
- Architect
- Jones Architecture
- Developer
- BlackRock Development and Real Estate
- Contractor
- R&H Construction
- Structural Engineer
- Froelich Engineers
- Photos
- David Papazian; Jones Architecture
Central Lofts was among the pioneers of mass timber multi-family developments in the City of Portland. Located at the base of the iconic St. Johns Bridge, the four-story, 30-unit building takes full advantage of its charismatic neighborhood and prominent location next to a plaza, which sits at the center of the area’s commercial corridor. Because designers wanted to minimize the use of steel and concrete yet provide a flexible ground-story layout, the CLT and glulam structure is combined with exterior wood shear walls. This wood exoskeleton is paired with a central scissor stair made of two interlocking CLT stair systems, which provide shear stability and optimize the building’s footprint by minimizing circulation area. With floor-to-ceiling glazing that provides views into neighboring Forest Park, the bright, airy apartment units are awash with natural light, highlighting the exposed wood beams and ceilings while promoting resident well-being. 27,500 sf / Type V-A construction