Hasta La Ideas

This week a single grand opening ushered in a new life for two Portland, OR institutions. The Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA) opened the doors of its new home in the beautifully restored and updated Federal Post Office building, now known as the Arlene and Harold Schnitzer Center for Art and Design. It’s always exciting when things go well for schools, and for this century old institution things are looking very bright. The move into the 96 year old building has taken over a decade of work and $34 million to complete, and brings massively expanded space for studios, lectures, material labs, exhibitions, screenings, and community gatherings.

PNCA was originally conceived as the school for the Portland Art Museum in 1909, making it the first museum school on the West Coast. The 1919 six-floor Post Office building was originally designed by Lewis P. Hobart, and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. Now, the school and building are positioned to become a ground-breaking anchor for the creatively quiet Park Blocks and Chinatown neighborhood nearby and the Northwest at large.

The renovation was spearheaded by Allied Works Architecture, headed by Brad Cloepfil, and must have felt more like an excavation. After undoing decades of dank “improvements” (think oppressively dropped ceilings and covered up windows) the new building almost hums with light. The finished remodel proudly displays gorgeous old molding, rich materials and soaring windows, and is additionally opened up with a modern atrium, skylighting and clean new finishes. The stoic grandness of old federal architecture is relieved by inviting curved balconies and spaces. The new and old are pinned neatly together with details like the bright but original cherrywood flooring, kept, as Cloepfil put it, “Because it’s awesome.”

The school is situated at a nexus of interesting and rapidly changing development around the downtown Portland Park Blocks. Centrally located and facing a long band of green space, the 511 building has views of industrial areas and swanky boutique districts alike. The facilities reflect that old and new mix, with dedicated spaces for a range of traditional methods and new technologies. 

The press opening was graced with simple fanfare and remarks from representatives of the many groups that have been pulling during the project’s development. The overall tone carried pride in the successful partnerships and great faith in the importance of investing in creative capital for the success of both individuals and communities. After years of incremental growth, PNCA is expanding as a cultural resource and touchstone. In PNCA President Tom Manley’s words, “We invite Portlanders to explore our galleries and engage with our public programs and be a part of this new era in PNCA’s rich history.”