After three years of construction, Block 216 reached its final height in late spring of 2022. Ahead of its official opening later this summer, this gallery looks back at the past year of construction, building out the interiors, the streetscapes, and the sculptural top of the tower.
The curtain wall cladding extends two-thirds of the way up the tower by June 2022.The mix of cantilevered and inset balconies emerges as the curtain wall continues up the condo floors.The chamfered tower corners reflect variable lighting to create a dynamic façade expression as the curtain wall nears the top of the tower.The completed structure reveals panoramic views to the northwest from level 34.Views from level 35 to the southwest, where the completion of new Lincoln High School signals the pending demolition of the 1950’s school building.Cantilevered steel supports for a future glass wind screen frame views north to the Freemont Bridge.A unique structural system at the roof creates column-free corners at the level 35 penthouse units.Views down to the topped-out 11W building from the level 35 penthouse floor.The steel and concrete roof structure frame views out to the northeast along level 35. The column-free corner of level 35 presents panoramic views to the southwest.Views to the other Downtown Portland towers along the sloped, cantilevered steel roof.Galvanized steel posts, struts, and trusses will support the illuminated “light box” atop the tower.Steel supports for the light box frame views to the west.The stainless steel pool shell is installed in prefabricated segments on level 19.The double-height clear glass curtain wall looks out to the south from the level 19 pool.Marble mosaic tile accentuates round three-foot-diameter structural columns in four hotel room bathrooms on each floor.Interior framing and mechanical systems begin to define the back-of-house corridor serving the main ballroom.Exhaust ductwork circles the ceiling of the future ballroom kitchen on level 2.While much of the building’s façade appears complete, the top ten floors remain open-air.A view along the sloped base of the future lighbox along the Willamette to the north.Tower in context along SW Washington St.Canopies are installed along SW 9th Avenue, beginning to define the future streetscape.Tower and podium at the corner of SW 9th and Washington.Curtain wall reaches level 27, midway up the condo floors.The narrow ends of the tower present a similar proportion to Park Avenue West, at a slightly larger scale.View to Pioneer Courthouse Square and the heart of Downtown Portland from level 35.View east to a shadow of Mt. Hood from level 35.Galvanized steel trusses for the future lightbox line the perimeter of the mechanical roof.View along the rooftop steel cladding supports to the northeast.View of surrounding rooftops from an east-facing condo balcony.View down a column of mid-tower balconies to the level 8 podium roof terrace.A stack of condo balconies feature glazed wind screens integral with the adjacent curtain wall cladding.The Block 216 curtain wall reflects Park Avenue West and other surrounding buildings.This view down the tower glazing reflects the terraced podium mass and highlights the tower crane supports to the building structure.An inset condo balcony opening frames a view east to Mt. Hood.Double-height glazing around the pool overlooks Downtown Portland.Corner suites on the hotel floors feature expansive windows with sloped glass following the tower form.A view across the level 8 roof terrace to the northeast.Mosaic tile and a decorative pendant fixture in a hotel suite bathroom.View up the tower from the level 6 podium terrace.Curtain wall cladding continues to climb the tower.Block 216 joins the downtown skyline in this view from the Pittock Mansion, with the chamfered glazing reflecting a distinctive pattern.Curtain wall approaches the distinctive penthouse levels at the top of the tower.Balcony openings and operable windows articulate the otherwise simple west façade of the tower.The street level continues to bustle with construction access, served by four construction lifts over the future sidewalks.The north construction lifts leave a vertical strip of temporary doors in the curtain wall.Construction lighting illuminates the open penthouse levels, hinting at the future lightbox crown.Block 216 joins the skyline in this view from the Vista Bridge.From the exterior, the podium appears substantially complete… above the ground level.Northwest corner of the tower with curtain wall up to level 34.Two blocks west, a large mobile crane removes the tower crane at 11W.The Block 216 tower crane continues to hoist unitized curtain wall panels as the tower façade nears completion.The construction lifts are removed as the service elevators come online, leaving a column of curtain wall units to fill in.Southwest corner of the tower and podium at sunset.The reflective glazing pairs nicely with colorful sunsets.Temporary sidewalk paving is removed as new right of way work finally begins on SW 10th Ave.Curtain wall units begin to fill the north construction lift bays, fully enclosing each floor up the building.A shift in lighting color reveals that the hotel floors at the lower tower are nearing completion including final light fixtures and other furnishing.Night construction lighting reveals views into the ongoing interior construction work in the podium.Southwest podium facades at sunset.Southwest podium facades at midday.Tower and podium along SW 10th Ave.View across balconies to the northeast on a rainy day.Views northwest from a condo living room and inset balcony.Interior drywall is installed in future condo units, framing views out through the curtain wall glazing.A large window frames a view west from a future condo bedroom.Future condo living rooms feature floor-to-ceiling glazing with a balcony in every unit.The large corner balconies feature sloped walls that follow the tower form.Mechanical systems are installed in the future level 20 restaurant. Interior framing hints at interior design features in the future hotel lobby.Morning fog and cold weather conceal the top of the tower and highlight the spandrel patterning in the curtain wall.The level 35 penthouses feature large balconies with cantilevered glass wind screens that define the sculptural tower cap.Penthouse terrace screen walls frame views to the Pearl District.Curtain wall finally encloses the level 35 penthouse units, which feature vaulted ceilings in the corners.The mechanical roof houses a telescoping building maintenance crane that services the entire tower façade.The view from the mechanical penthouse roof overlooks the future lightbox screen out to Mt. Hood.Two large cooling towers fill the southern section of the tower roof.View north from the mechanical penthouse roof, with steel framing for the future ligthbox framing the Pearl District.View down the tower to the terraced podium roofs from a condo balcony.The tower crane centers this view along the reflective tower façade featuring the rooftops of surrounding buildings.The level 7 office space features continuous curtain wall glazing overlooking the podium green roof.Future office space on level 7.Interior framing begins to define the interior design features in the main ballroom.Alternating bands of drywall and wood paneling will create a dynamic ballroom ceiling suspending below the colossal concrete transfer beams above.Exhaust hoods and other infrastructure begins to fill the commercial ballroom kitchen on level 2.The junior ballroom will feature a scaled-down version of the main ballroom design, with views out to SW 10th and Alder.The faceted precast podium cladding catches sunlight and casts shadows, reflecting the dynamism of the large-scale tower massing.With the tower cladding complete, the tower crane begins to climb its way down the building.A large mobile crane begins to disassemble the tower crane, after the tower crane climbed its way down within reach.A mobile crane removes the tower crane, piece by piece, from SW Washington St.As the tower crane comes down, the east side of the tower suddenly reads as a finished building.Workers begin completing outstanding portions of the tower façade, working from the rooftop maintenance crane.The completed east podium façade steps down to the north.After serving as the only laydown space throughout construction, SW 9th Ave is demolished in preparation for its transformation into a woonerf.The SW 9th Ave streetscape construction finally begins as the building nears completion.The completed tower joins the mixed context of the midtown district.Canopies now line most bays of the building around all sides.Completed tower façade with the 511 building along SW Washington St.Construction on the SW 9th Ave green loop begins with removal of the existing street and installation of anchors for the overhead catenary lights in the Stevens Building façade.Tower view along SW 10th Ave.Completed west tower façade from SW Alder St.Block 216 with the Moxy Hotel on SW Alder St.Block 216 and Park Avenue West present similar volumes along SW 10th Ave.The completed tower at sunset, on axis with the historic Benson Hotel.A late O’Bryant Square tree screens the tower mass from Park Ave.After five years of closure, O’Bryant Square is finally scheduled for demolition, and an additional line of fencing is installed in the adjoining streets.Work continues on the full replacement of SW 9th Ave, creating a maze for pedestrians with the adjacent fencing at O’Bryant Square.Ginkgo Trees screen views down SW Alder St. to the nearly-completed Block 216 and 11W.Framing and plaster define the articulated parking entry and porte cochere spaces. Views west from a future condo bedroom.Curtain wall glazing with an inset balcony at a west-facing condo living room.The future resident lounge begins to take shape on the level 8 podium roof with the installation of raised steel planters.View north across the future level 8 podium roof terrace.Canopies define an outdoor kitchen and operable wall at the level 8 resident lounge and terrace.Southwest corner of the completed tower.Northeast corner of the completed tower, which matches the southwest corner except for the mid-tower pool expression on the southeast corner.Northwest corner of the completed tower and podium.Sidewalk paving and other right of way improvements continue on SW 10th and SW Alder.Southwest view of the completed tower and podium.Work progresses on the south end of the SW 9th Ave green loop improvements.Southeast view of the completed podium and tower.Work on the SW 9th Ave green loop continues with installation of raised steel planters.Sidewalk and street paving progresses on SW 9th Ave.Sculpted granite boulders anchor the small plaza at the corner of SW 10th and Washington.With the parking strip repaved along the streetcar tracks, the new sidewalk is nearly ready to open on SW 10th Ave.Northeast view of the tower at dawn.Sidewalk construction is nearly complete along SW 10th Ave. Steel planters and paving substrates are completed in preparation for concrete unit paver installation on the SW 9th Ave green loop.The completed tower façade keys into the podium precast cladding along SW Alder St.This level 34 penthouse unit will be finished by a future buyer. An unfinished penthouse unit on level 34 looks out to Mt. Hood as the curtain wall chamfer line crosses toward the center of the tower.The vaulted SW corner of the level 35 penthouse unit progresses with drywall installation.A sloping mullion tracks the tower massing fold line up to the top corner of the tower at this vaulted corner of level 35.The future level 20 restaurant nears completion with installation of sculptural wood fins, mosaic tile, and wood flooring.The level 20 bar features a curved island complete with floating shelves that maintain views out to the northeast.A future private dining room in the level 20 restaurant nears completion.Wood slats with cove lighting articulate the ceiling in the Ritz Carlton club lounge.The level 20 club lounge features views to the southwest and a dedicated balcony.Views west from the level 19 pool deck.The level 19 pool nears completion, with tiled columns and a mirrored ceiling feature.Level 19 also features a large hotel fitness center.The level 19 spa lobby features curved ceiling reveals that tie into retail shelving.Vertical windows in the ballroom look out to O’Bryant Square.O’Bryant Square demolition finally begins, with removal of mature trees viewed from the level 2 main ballroom.Final finishes begin to be installed in the main hotel lobby, with wood cladding wrapping the stair treads.A circular bar encloses a round column in the ballroom prefunction space.The hotel lobby nears completion with illuminated GFRG panels, a curved chandelier, and the in-progress monumental stair.The lobby bar looks out to the corner of SW 10th and Washington.
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