Longtime occupants of a historic building in downtown Portland, Skylab’s office space was vastly undersized and no longer met the needs of their evolving practice. The search for new space began with several questions, “How can our studio evolve from a dedicated workspace to a playground for the art and design community? Where can we find a space to integrate gardens, an event venue, and a fabrication shop, as well as our studio?” A three-year search turned up a triangle-shaped corner lot in the city’s Northwest Industrial area consisting of two steel buildings and an adjacent storage/work yard. The resulting transformation reflects the firm’s design culture, which promotes experimentation, collaboration, and community, as well as an opportunity to share space with PDX Contemporary Art.
Originally built in the mid-1940s for the Titan Metal Products Corp., the 10,752-square-foot complex consists of two semi-cylindrical, prefabricated steel warehouse buildings, notable for their arching roof forms and connected via an enclosed walkway. While much of the existing structures remain intact, Skylab has reworked the layout and updated the buildings through a strategic set of insertions and modifications. Visual and physical connections to the surrounding landscape and urban environment are enhanced through expansive new glazing on the north and south facades and four large 10-foot-by-10-foot operable window walls along the east. An existing 40-foot-long zipper-like skylight running along the central ridge of the easternmost building was expanded to 60 feet to bring sunlight deep within the building to work areas.
Inside, the venue features a full kitchen and dining room, listening lounge, 3D print space, and enhanced meeting and workspaces. The interiors feature an industrial aesthetic: exposed concrete floors, aluminum windows, and an exposed steel roof. Mylar backed insulation is installed with the which helps to give the space it’s other-worldly aesthetic, tops newly installed insulation. Natural elements were introduced through the addition of conference rooms made with cross-laminated timber (CLT), wood cabinetry, and four 15-foot-tall trees in the large, open work area. Accessibility and energy systems were also part of the scope.
Skylab’s 2,000-square-foot SkylabSHOP is a hands-on testing ground where design meets fabrication. Attached to the office, the space facilitates full-scale experimentation with forms, materials, and fabrication methods, supporting everything from custom finishes and specialty components to site-specific installations. With capabilities in woodworking, metal fabrication, laser cutting, and plastics casting, the shop fosters innovation, collaboration, and craftsmanship. providing staff with direct access to physical experimentation of forms and shapes at scale, as well as a serving as a fabrication facility for elements destined to be included into projects. SkylabSHOP provides the firm with the opportunity to fully explore innovative solutions for complex design challenges, including tackling projects that require unique, specialized fabrication. Inspired by the skill and attention to detail of master crafters, both past and present, SkylabSHOP manifests the interactive, evolving process of building.
Surrounding the complex is a 13,148-square-foot mix of outdoor garden spaces, including open-air and covered meeting and lounge areas, an event area, a cultivation garden, an outdoor cooking zone and a fire pit. These supportive spaces are intended to create a vibrant space for designers, artists, and where the community to connect for special events and critical discourse. The on-site parking area serves double-duty as a stage for performances and an area for food truck parking.
