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?
Architecture firm
Skylab Architecture
Location
Portland, Oregon, USA
Photography
Eric Fortier, Stephen Miller
Design team
Jeff Kovel, Principal, Design Architect. Brent Grubb, Principal-in-charge. Jennifer Martin, Project Architect. Nita Posada, Principal, Interior Design. Amy DeVall, Interior Design
Interior design
Skylab Architecture
Civil engineer
Humber Design Group Inc.
Structural engineer
Valar Consulting Engineering
Environmental & MEP
Jacobs (mechanical design / build)
Construction
Lorentz Bruun
Originally built in the mid-1940s for the Titan Metal Products Corp., the 10,000-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 th...
Architecture firm
Skylab Architecture
Location
Portland, Oregon, USA
Design team
Jeff Kovel, Principal, Design Architect. Brent Grubb, Principal-in-charge. Jennifer Martin, Project Architect. Nita Posada, Principal, Interior Design. Amy DeVall, Interior Design
Collaborators
Jacobs (mechanical design / build)
Interior design
Skylab Architecture
Civil engineer
Humber Design Group Inc.
Structural engineer
Valar Consulting Engineering
Construction
Lorentz Bruun
Located across the Willamette River from downtown Portland, the YARD is a 21-story, 343,100-square-foot mixed-use apartment building that rises above the famous Burnside Bridge. The roof of the podium elevates a native planted landscape to the level of the bridge to create a shared community landscape environment, while its folded roof shape abstra...
Architecture firm
Skylab Architecture
Location
Portland, Oregon, USA
Photography
Maria Lamb, Stephen Miller, Brian Walker Lee
Principal architect
Jeff Kovel
Design team
Jeff Kovel, Creative Director / Principal Architect. Brent Grubb, Principal. Susan Barnes, Project Lead. Nathan Cox, Project Architect. Jill Asselineau Project Architect. Josh Ashcroft, Designer. Ben Porto, Designer. Stephen Miller, Visualization. Amy DeVall, Interior Designer. Mark Nye, Project Lead. Jim Henry, Project Architect. Jon DeLeonardo, Architect. Marian Jones, Architect. Katy Krider, Lead Interior Designer. Hiroki Abe, Designer
Interior design
Skylab Architecture
Collaborators
Acoustical Engineer: SSA Acoustics, LLP. Geotechnical Engineer: GeoDesign Inc. Surveyor: Blue Dot Group. Acoustical Consultant: SSA Acoustics, LLP. Building Envelope Consultant: The Façade Group, LLC. Environmental Graphics: Open Studio Collective
Civil engineer
Harper Houf Peterson Righellis - Inc.
Structural engineer
KPFF Consulting Engineers
Environmental & MEP
PAE Consulting Engineers
Lighting
LUMA Lighting Design
Construction
Andersen Construction
Visualization
Stephen Miller
Material
9Wood / Ceilings and panels. Lapchi Carpets / Rugs. Stephen Kenn Loft / Couch. Arcadia Curtain Wall and Storefront. Guardian Glass
Client
Key Development Corporation
Typology
Residential › Mixed-use Development
Once complete, the complex will provide over 10,000 square feet of interior space for experimentation, design, and fabrication that Skylab will share with PDX Contemporary Art. The project is expected to be completed by summer 2023.
Architecture firm
Skylab Architecture
Location
Portland, Oregon, USA
Principal architect
Jeff Kovel, Brent Grubb
Design team
Jeff Kovel, Principal, Design Architect. Brent Grubb, Principal-in-charge. Jennifer Martin, Project Architect. Nita Posada, Principal, Interior Design. Amy DeVall, Interior Design
Completion year
Summer 2023
Collaborators
2.ink Studio (landscape architecture). Humber Design Group Inc. (civil engineering). Valar Consulting Engineering (structural engineering). Jacobs (mechanical design / build). Lorentz Bruun (general contractor)
Typology
Commercial › Office Building
worked alongside 2.ink Studio and in close collaboration with Portland Parks and Recreation to create this 16-acre, hourglass-shaped park in a northeast Portland neighborhood.
Architecture firm
Skylab Architecture
Location
Portland, Oregon, USA
Photography
Stephen Miller (all still photos), Brian Dalrymple (drone photo only)
Design team
Jeff Kovel, Principal, Design Architect. Brent Grubb, Principal-in-charge. Jamin AAsum, Project Director. Eddie Peraza Garzon, Project Designer
Collaborators
Northwest Geotech, Inc. (geotechnical Engineering). Mauricio Robalino of Artpeople (artist). Ambrosini Design (graphic design). Grindline Skateparks, Inc. (skatepark consulting). Architectural Cost Consultants (cost estimating). Treecology, Inc. (arborist). DEW, Inc. (water feature consulting)
Civil engineer
3J Consulting
Structural engineer
Peterson Structural
Environmental & MEP
R&W Engineering, Inc. (mechanical engineering)
The Columbia Building supports the City of Portland’s Bureau of Environmental Services. Housing workspace, a visitor reception area, and public meeting spaces, the 11,640-square-foot building not only supports the engineering department of the wastewater treatment facility but also functions as an immersive educational experience, all integrated wi...
Project name
Columbia Building
Architecture firm
Skylab Architecture
Location
Portland, Oregon, USA
Photography
Jeremy Bittermann
Principal architect
Brent Grubb
Design team
Jeff Kovel, Design Director. Brent Grubb, Project Architect and Manager. Susan Barnes, Project Architect
Collaborators
Civil Engineer: Vigil Agrimis, Inc.; Branding: The Felt Hat .; Consultants: Green Building Services.; Partner Architect: Solarc Architecture and Engineering Inc.; Sculpture Artist: John Grade.
Structural engineer
Catena Consulting Engineers
Lighting
Biella Lighting Design
Client
Bureau of Environmental Services
Typology
Office - Building
Skylab Architecture designs the N M Bodecker Foundation in Portland, Oregon. The foundation provides creative communities with a dynamic mix of in-person spaces for workshops, gathering, and collaboration.
Project name
The N M Bodecker Foundation
Architecture firm
Skylab Architecture
Location
Portland, Oregon, USA
Photography
Jeremy Bitterman, Stephen Miller (video)
Design team
Jeff Kovel (Design Director), Brent Grubb (Project Manager), Jamin AAsum (Project Architect), Kyle Norman (Project Architect), Dustin Furseth (Project Architect), Amy DeVall (Interior Designer), Stephen Miller (Design & Visualization)
Collaborators
Geo Design (Geotechnical Engineer), Coral Sound Inc. (Acoustical Engineer), Ambient Automation (AV), The Facade Group (Building Envelope & Waterproofing), Michael Cronin Acoustic (Recording Room Consultant), Dream Land Skateparks (Skatepark Consultant)
Interior design
Skylab Architecture
Civil engineer
Harper Houf Peterson Righellis Inc.
Structural engineer
Structural Engineering (SCE)
Environmental & MEP
Interface Engineering
Lighting
Lighting Workshop
Construction
Skylab Construction Co.
