After outgrowing their longtime downtown Portland, Oregon, workspace, Skylab Architecture sought a new location that could support the evolving needs of their interdisciplinary practice. The vision was not just for more room, but for a dynamic campus that could integrate design, fabrication, community engagement, and experimentation. A triangular lot in Portland's Northwest Industrial District provided the opportunity to realize that vision.
新總部面積約為10,752平方英尺,建筑位于兩座原建于20世紀40年代的預制鋼結(jié)構(gòu)倉庫內(nèi),這些建筑最初為泰坦金屬制品公司(Titan Metal Products Corp.)所建。Skylab在保留拱形結(jié)構(gòu)的工業(yè)風格的同時,有針對性地融入了現(xiàn)代元素。北立面和南立面新增的大面積玻璃幕墻,以及東立面四面10英尺X10英尺的可開啟窗墻,顯著提升了自然采光和空間連通性。中央天窗的跨度從40英尺延長至60英尺,使自然光能夠深入東部建筑內(nèi)部。
The resulting 10,752-square-foot headquarters is housed within two prefabricated steel warehouse buildings originally constructed in the 1940s for the Titan Metal Products Corp. Skylab retained the industrial character of the arched structures while strategically inserting contemporary upgrades. Expansive new glazing on the north and south facades, along with four 10-by-10-foot operable window walls on the east, improves daylight and connectivity. A central skylight was extended from 40 to 60 feet to bring natural light deep into the eastern building.
The interiors support a mix of focused work and collaborative programming. Features include a full kitchen and dining area, a listening lounge, 3D print lab, and a combination of open and enclosed workspaces. Industrial materials—exposed concrete floors, aluminum windows, and mylar-backed insulation—are balanced by warmer elements such as cross-laminated timber conference rooms, custom wood cabinetry, and interior landscaping with 15-foot trees. Upgrades also included new accessibility features and energy systems.
Adjoining the studio is SkylabSHOP, a 1,000-square-foot fabrication facility completed in 2024. Designed to bring prototyping and making into the heart of the design process, the shop supports full-scale experimentation with forms, materials, and construction techniques. It allows the team to test ideas, refine designs, and produce one-of-a-kind components for project installations.
The shop is equipped for woodworking, metal fabrication, laser cutting, plastics casting, furniture finishing, and metal polishing. Staffed by a team with over 50 years of combined fabrication experience, it functions as a hands-on extension of the design studio. SkylabSHOP also collaborates with a network of specialized partners for techniques such as CNC machining, waterjet cutting, 3D bending, and foundry work. This integration of design and fabrication fosters innovation, enabling the firm to solve complex challenges and create project-specific solutions in-house.
Beyond the buildings, the site includes 13,148 square feet of multifunctional outdoor space. Gardens, event and lounge areas, a cultivation zone, outdoor kitchen, fire pit, and flexible gathering spaces support both daily use and public programming. The on-site parking area is designed to convert easily into space for food trucks, performances, and installations.
Together, Skylab's new headquarters and fabrication shop reflect the firm's commitment to multidisciplinary collaboration, material experimentation, and design excellence, creating a cohesive environment where architecture and making are deeply connected.
建筑設(shè)計:Skylab Architecture
類型:辦公建筑/商業(yè)建筑
面積:10752平方英尺
項目時間:2024年
攝影:Stephen Miller, Eric Fortier
景觀建筑:2.ink Studio
土木工程顧問:Humber Design Group
結(jié)構(gòu)顧問:Valar Consulting Engineering
機械顧問:Jacobs Consultancy, Inc.
總承包商:Lorentz Bruun Construction
主創(chuàng)團隊:Jeff Kovel, Brent Grubb, Nita Posada,
設(shè)計團隊:Jennifer Martin, Amy DeVall
建筑與室內(nèi)設(shè)計:Skylab Architecture
城市:波特蘭
國家:美國
Offices, Commercial Architecture•Portland, United States
Architects: Skylab Architecture
Area: 10752 ft²
Year: 2024
Photographs:Stephen Miller, Eric Fortier
Landscape Architecture: 2.ink Studio
Civil Consultants: Humber Design Group
Structural Consultants: Valar Consulting Engineering
Mechanical Consultants: Jacobs Consultancy, Inc.
General Contractors: Lorentz Bruun Construction
Category: Offices, Commercial Architecture
Lead Team: Jeff Kovel, Brent Grubb, Nita Posada,
Design Team: Jennifer Martin, Amy DeVall
Architecture And Interior Design: Skylab Architecture
City: Portland
Country: United States