Simon and Helen Director Park

Formerly a parking lot the size of a city block, Simon and Helen Director Park is now a vibrant urban piazza in downtown Portland. The park, built entirely atop an underground parking garage, has created a variety of public spaces within the site's compact footprint, with a range of microclimates, amenities and activities. A glass and wood trellis stands out as a signature element of the plaza, offering shaded seating and a café without disrupting views throughout the space. An interactive fountain element anchors the northwest corner of the site, partially bordered by an ipe wood bench, and on the southern edge, a small grove of trees frames a giant, whimsical chessboard. Amid this vibrant civic experience, the park also incorporates strategies for urban greening and stormwater management, including a green roof on the café, planting beds which filter and reserve runoff for irrigation, and even the trellis and paving, which are designed to direct rainfall into the park’s catchment system. 

Location
Portland, OR

Owner
Portland Parks and Recreation

Status
Completed 2009

Key Team Members
Laurie Olin, Partner-in-Charge
Tiffany Beamer, Project Manager

Awards
2013, American Society of Landscape Architects, Merit Award, General Design
2012, American Architecture Awards, the Chicago Athenaeum         
2012, American Institute of Architects Oregon Chapter, Merit Award
2011, Urban Land Institute, Amanda Burden Open Space Award, Finalist
2010, Northwest Construction Best of 2010 Awards
2010, Forbes, List of Most High-Tech Green Buildings
2010, American Institute of Architects Northwest & Pacific Region, Honor Award
2010, International Interior Design Association and Metropolis Magazine, Smart Environments Award