Examining Portland's "Built Environment"
Portland is widely known as a well planned, forward-looking city, yet members of the design professions are troubled by a sense that we have been resting on our laurels. On September 25, a panel of three American Institute of Architect Fellows will suggest that Portland devise an excellence in design” initiative that applies to everything in the city’s “built environment” – from sidewalks to architecture; from public squares to freeway structures.
The panel will discuss opportunities seized in the past, such as replacing Harbor Way with Waterfront Park, as well as squandered opportunities, like the missed chance to free the east bank of I-5. The panel will review current projects, including the new Willamette River Transit Bridge and the Columbia River Crossing, and will examine how we might make the most of these and future design opportunities to create a Portland that its citizens can continue to be proud of.
City Club welcomes panelists Don Stastny, co-founder and CEO, StastnyBrun Architects; Nancy Merryman, Principal, Merryman Barnes Architects, Inc.; and Bob Hastings, Agency Architect, TriMet.
