NEW OREGON SYMPHONY CENTER UNVIERSITY OF OREGON - 2018-2019

Project Description

Located on the east bank of the Willamette River in the heart of Portland’s Burnside District, the New Oregon Symphony Center was my thesis studio project to complete my Bachelors of Architecture at the University of Oregon. The project was centered around the creation of a new symphony music-specific performance hall complex in Portland that would finally establish a dedicated home for the Oregon Symphony. The way I set out to tackle this project was through a basic concept of a sculpture sitting atop a pedestal. The other way in which I would describe the guiding principle of the design of the complex was that a place where art is performed and created should be housed in a place that itself is expressive and is a piece of art itself. Along the western edge of the complex, the creation of the River Walk, a High-Line inspired linear park that connected the complex to the Burnside Bridge, also links to the newly created Symphony Park, a vertical park that links the street level plaza at street level up to the River Walk. The complex is also home to a new established Oregon Conservator of Music, the school that will serve as home to the next generation of symphonic music performers of Portland. When entering from the street level, patrons will make their way up the Spire, the winding ramp system that wraps around the hourglass-inspired glass opening that houses a tall Douglas Fir tree, the state tree of Oregon, and a symbol meant to honor the natural beauty of the state. At the top of the Spire is the grand Atrium where people will experience the sweeping views of downtown Portland across the river. It is from the space where people will make their way down towards the grand hall. The flanking open spaces along both performance hall areas serves as the intermission lounge and gather spaces for patrons to be able to enjoy a snack or a refreshment before and after performances.