5 MLK Construction, 2019

2019 brought balance to the Burnside Bridgehead, as the 5 MLK development rose to join the Yard tower in Portland. While the first year of construction cleared the site, laid the foundations, and barely reached above grade level, the second year saw the structure top out and most of the cladding installed.

The building looks nearly complete from afar despite the persistence of the tower crane. At street level, it clearly remains an active construction site. 5 MLK will house hundreds of residents, several floors of office tenants, and three retail frontages further activating the Central Eastside by the end of 2020.

The building’s massing and facade are the most noteworthy aspects to emerge this year. Note the variation in the facade with the weather, as the building reflects a bright sunny, or a gray rainy day. And also note the continued juxtaposition of 5 MLK alongside the other works of unusual architecture at the bridgehead. GREC Architects of Chicago offer Portland a dynamic counterpoint to the dark, the colorful, the massive, the micro-scaled, and the historic context.

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