More than a dozen projects across Oregon have been selected by nonprofit Restore Oregon to receive a 2023 DeMuro Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation — the state’s highest honor for the preservation, reuse, and revitalization of architectural and cultural sites.
Here’s a look at four of the eight winning projects in Portland.
The Pickle Factory
Cucumbers were never bathed in brine in this 1921 building; rather, the name stems from the foundry term “pickling,” referring to the process of removing surface impurities from cast parts. Restoration crews altered as little as possible to the building’s exterior — leaving exposed concrete and old cranes to lend a creative atmosphere to the space which now houses affordable offices and studios for makers.
Hotel Grand Stark
Built in 1907 for a furniture company, the four-story brick building was a key hub for 20th-century commerce, housing retailers and hotels. Instead of demolishing the space and replacing it, work to remove graffiti, repair damages, and implement seismic upgrades have “reintegrated a historic resource into the fabric of the surrounding neighborhood.”
Path Home
This former Lents Evangelical United Brethren Church constructed in 1961 now serves unhoused families as the first and only shelter in Oregon featuring trauma-informed design and architecture. Recent work on the site’s Family Village Campus added new floor-to-ceiling windows, round paper lights, and low walls, with a focus on developing areas that foster safety and comfort.
Hollywood Theatre Lower Facade
One of Portland’s most iconic landmarks, this theater built in 1926 underwent work to return its original entry experience to its former glory. Experts stripped away changes made to the entrance in the 1960s, revealing original building elements that were repaired and incorporated into new artwork, detailed glass-fiber reinforced concrete castings, terrazzo flooring, and plasterwork.
DeMuro Award recipients will be honored at the Restoration Celebration on Friday, Sept. 22, at Castaway Portland. Tickets are available here.
