Reuse of Landmark Building Includes COVID-Resilience and Thematic Finishes
PORTLAND, Ore. – Full-service design firm RDC has unveiled its interior design for the Portland, Oregon offices of construction company Skanska USA Building Inc. The interiors at the historic 1922 building – 1010 NW Flanders St., in the Pearl District – combine comprehensive COVID-resilient features with a themed use of materials that echo both Skanska’s company culture and its Portland surroundings.
Environmental health features in the new space include flexibility for workstation distancing, natural daylighting, dual entry alternates, reverse osmosis water filtration, and VAV air systems. They also utilize raw materials like concrete and wood within organic forms to create a purposeful and soothing aesthetic harmony.
“The RDC team partnered closely with Skanska to create a regional office with a local vibe authentic to Portland,” said RDC Principal Jackson Thilenius, AIA. “At the same time, the interiors encourage collaborative culture, exemplify sustainable practices, and create flexibility so that the space can evolve over time. All of these features integrate with Skanska’s environmental advances for safety during COVID periods and beyond.”
RDC’s scope of work was the full workplace tenant improvements on the fourth and fifth floors with a connecting staircase. The fourth level is primarily for employee use with varying-sized meeting rooms and several collaboration spaces. Both floors accommodate 87 workstations.
“The existing space was beautiful with nailed decking, timber columns, hardwood floors and an atrium over the connecting stairs, so our approach was to respect this classic architecture while creating a space worthy of Skanska’s goals,” said Thilenius.
The elevator lobby at the fifth level serves as the hosting level and event space with rooms including phone booths, a library, an open kitchen and a wellness room with some workstations. The central training room was designed with flexibility to be completely opened to host large social gatherings.
The reception desk merges two predominant materials: concrete and wood. The concrete reflects Skanska’s significant role providing concrete materials for its many international construction projects. The wood echoes the regional office’s Pacific Northwest forest surroundings, and pays tribute to the historic buildings in Portland’s storied Pearl District.
Other design highlights include a kitchen island designed to maximize seating, with custom removable bistro-style tables that connect to the island but can be stored for more space. The kitchen island is also a form work texture/pattern made of limestone cement from Texston with black solid surface countertop and Viroc accents. The kitchen is all black traceless laminate millwork with built in black appliances and fixtures.
“The interior design aligns with our rich history of constructing impactful projects in the Portland region,” said Skanska USA senior project manager, Kimberlee Larsen. “We are excited to partner with RDC. The space is the perfect backdrop for our team, fostering creativity and collaboration in a safe environment.”