It’s been more than 70 years since Oregon’s largest city, Portland, has had a public market. In response to the city's thriving culinary scene, residents have formed the non-profit organization James Beard Public Market, and Snøhetta designed what will be Portland’s first year-round market since 1942, when the Portland Public Market closed down.
Named after prominent gastronomical figure James Beard, who Dezeen reports “developed an interest in food at an early age after accompanying his mother on shopping trips to Portland markets,” the market will reintroduce the hustle and bustle of commerce and public vibrancy to the western end of Morrison Bridge on the Willamette River.
The bridge, which currently splits the market’s future site in half and blocks pedestrian access from three sides, will be realigned by the architects with access ramps, and a new pedestrian through-road will make the new market accessible from all directions.
Snøhetta’s design will have room for 60 permanent stalls, 30 flexible stands, restaurants, a teaching kitchen, and an events space.
"A generous pedestrian street will run north and south, swelling at the sunniest portion of the site, to create an outdoor room for vendor stalls, seating, and green areas for Pacific Northwest native plantings," the design team added in a statement.
Construction is set to start in 2016. This isn’t the Oslo-based firm’s only project in Oregon—they have been called on to revitalize an abandoned paper mill on the Willamette Falls near Oregon City into a mixed-use public destination, giving the public up-close access to the falls for the first time.
Related Stories
Coronavirus | Aug 25, 2020
Video: 5 building sectors to watch amid COVID-19
RCLCO's Brad Hunter reveals the winners and non-winners of the U.S. real estate market during the coronavirus pandemic.
Retail Centers | Aug 19, 2020
How has shopping changed over the past 100 years? A look at the evolution of retail
From malls and big-box stores to online delivery and mall redevelopment: Here’s how the retail landscape has evolved—and where it’s likely headed.
Retail Centers | Aug 12, 2020
Apple Central World welcomes first visitors in Bangkok
Foster + Partners designed the building.
Retail Centers | Jul 30, 2020
The future is a numbers game for retail and restaurants
Brick-and-mortar retailers, already gasping for air under pressure from ecommerce, were dealt a critical blow by the spread of the coronavirus that forced most stores and restaurants to close, or at best operate as carryout- or delivery-only providers.
Retail Centers | Jun 17, 2020
New cannabis dispensary under construction in Northbrook, Ill.
The project will be a national flagship location for Greenhouse.
Modular Building | May 22, 2020
‘Cargotecture’ is coming to North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park
Boxyard RTP, made from 38 shipping containers, will serve as a community gathering and social space.
Coronavirus | Apr 13, 2020
COVID-19 alert: City conducts a 'virtual building inspection' to allow Starbucks and bank to open
Bothell, Wash., issues a certificate of occupancy to developer after inspecting the property online.
Retail Centers | Mar 27, 2020
New South Korean retail building looks like a molting insect
OMA designed the project.
Retail Centers | Feb 28, 2020
Eat with the Peanuts Gang in this new experiential cafe concept
The McBride Company partnered with Peanuts Worldwide LLC to design the concept.
Retail Centers | Jan 30, 2020
An all-glass roof hovers above a refurbished shopping mall in Montreal
This $200 million project provided the installer, Seele, with some valuable lessons learned working with large panels in colder weather.