The Redd East is an early-1900s foundry building in Portland’s Central Eastside Industrial District. After serving as an under-utilized warehouse for several decades, Ecotrust is transforming the building into an event center at the heart of its new “working hub for the regional food economy.”
This change of use triggers a City-of-Portland-mandated seismic upgrade; the building was completely transformed in the process. Many of the original window openings were restored, new siding and roofing was installed, and usable spaces were carved out of the lower-volume east and west portions of the building. All-new mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems were installed, complete with a rooftop solar array, accent lighting, and extensive audio-visual systems to support future events.
I designed the seismic upgrades with KPFF for Urban Patterns Architecture, and also assisted Walsh Construction with construction means and methods. The seismic upgrade is designed to complement the historic character and aesthetic of the building. Given the 35-foot height of the main space, and the abundant existing window openings, a steel braced frame solution was selected for most of the building instead of wood shear walls. We selected a unique double-channel section with intermittent connecting bolts for the braces. The frames are supported on new concrete footings tied to the existing column and wall footings, some extending seven feet below the floor slab.
With its robust new structural system and extensive interior upgrades, the Redd East will be an excellent event space in the heart of a rapidly-evolving district in inner SE Portland for years to come.
Overall view of the Redd East prior to the start of construction.
The removal of 1970s-era ceiling joists reveals the original roof trusses.
Bridging at the truss panel points restores an original feature in place of the former ceiling.
Removal of the vinyl siding revealed a 80-foot-long sign painted on the original wall sheathing along SE 9th Ave.
Paint is stripped from the south Gantry crane as the south wall is opened up.
The main hall space as demolition is completed.
Large restored window openings are reframed to modern structural requirements along the upper west elevation.
A truck collects soil from excavations for a braced frame footing inside the building.
Rebar and formwork are prepared for a large braced frame mat foundation on the east side of the building.
Rebar for a concrete plinth to connect a braced frame to its footing and the existing column footings.
A view inside the roof trusses in the older north portion of the building, before the paint was removed.
Machinery for the north gantry crane that spans the main hall space.
Excavation for one braced frame foundation extended seven feet below the floor slab to match the depth of the existing column footings.
Restored window openings offer a view to the completed Redd West.
Walnut-shell blasting was employed to strip paint from the heavy timber gantry crane beams and columns. The 12-inch by 24-inch timber beams extend the entire 200-foot length of the main hall.
New wood windows adorn the north elevation in a wall that was completely rebuilt to meet modern structural standards.
Headers are installed in an interior bearing wall to facilitate new operable partitions.
New concrete stairs are built to create a new entry along SE 9th Ave.
The first steel braced frames are installed in the main hall.
A steel braced frame with the historic mechanical press.
A new steel braced frame, which was lifted through a hole in the roof in one piece.
A triple-plate connection at the center of a braced frame “X.
The 200-foot powerhouse building is stripped down to its concrete shell, which was braced to a new metal-framed building.
Reinforcing plates on a roof truss-to-column connection next to the top of a braced frame.
A view through the roof trusses in the south portion of the building.
View of the main hall at the gantry crane elevation.
A welder completes the connection between the 35-foot-tall braces on the south frame. This frame was lifted through the roof in pieces and erected in-place.
Two of the braced frames in the middle of the building.
The north braced frame was also lifted into the building in pieces and erected in place.
A roof opening above a braced frame and the mechanical press offers inpiration for a potential future skylight.
Detailed view of the braced frame near the new east entry, with its connection to the northeast low roof.
The triple-plate connection at the center of the braced frame X was designed to complement the brace geometry and be easily installed in the field.
The north braced frame supports the main roof as well as the northeast low roof.
Hot-dipped galvanized steel framing for a new freestanding canopy near the west main entrance.
The new steel-framed freestanding canopy roof features an integral valley gutter and creates a 1,000 square foot covered outdoor space.
Window trim is painted outside the 35-foot-tall south braced frame.
The north/south braced frames are located between the original heavy-timber gantry crane beams and the upper exterior walls.
The steel braced frames are painted black, along with many of the original steel elements being saved inside the building.
Interior finish work begins as the braced frames are completed.
The new freestanding canopy near the west entry also serves as a seating area for the Powerhouse food vendor.
New wood windows, hemlock siding, and red paint adorn the northeast facade along SE Taylor St.
The exposed wood roof structure in the powerhouse adds warmth to the new construction within the historic concrete shell.
The freestanding canopy adds coverage over new glazed roll-up doors along the west side of the building.
The south gantry crane is painted and positions to relate aesthetically to the new steel braced frame. The braced frame also provides seismic bracing for the crane.
The main hall as construction nears completion.
A completed braced frame along the east side of the main hall.
Wood paneling sourced from Ecotrust’s forests complements the character of the historic elements in the main hall.
The completed interior north elevation features a triple-row of wood windows, a “double-X” steel braced frame, and an exposed steel wind brace that structurally leverages the original heavy timber gantry crane beams.
A double row of new wood windows behind the original heavy timber gantry crane beams along the upper west elevation.
The north braced frame with its connections to the roof structure and the north wall wind brace.
Overall view of the main hall looking south near the completion of construction.
A conference room in the northeast corner of the building features window niches with casework to conceal a Simpson Strong-wall seismic support.
The two “single-X” braced frames in the southern portion of the building support the main roof and the high southeast roof over the demonstration kitchen area.
Each “double-X” braced frame supports two of the four roof elevations found in the original construction.
The nearly-complete north facade restores the highly-glazed character of the building’s history. More than half of the windows had been boarded up for over 50 years.
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