curating architecture news, competitions and events from around the world
Sideyard, a mass timber, urban infill project by Skylab
Photograph © Stephen Miller

Sideyard, a mass timber, urban infill project by Skylab

A leftover 9,000-square-foot berm space was created when the City of Portland built the new one-way Couch Street couplet reconnecting the roadway to the Burnside Bridge.

The building is a mass timber, urban infill project called Sideyard. It features CLT construction with free-flowing interior spaces and brick infill panels on the exterior.

Sideyard, a mass timber, urban infill project by Skylab
Photograph © Stephen Miller

A leftover 9,000-square-foot berm space was created when the City of Portland built the new one-way Couch Street couplet reconnecting the roadway to the Burnside Bridge.

Projects most important idea: “Finding a harmonious voice in this emerging neighborhood that is responsive and in tune with the modern vernacular. Placing a quoin upon an underutilized site to maximize the neighborhoods potential.

Skylab’s Jill Asselineau, Project Director

Sideyard was designed to fit this urban remnant property as a working-class building aimed at public transportation connectivity, pedestrian openness, and bicycle priority access. It is positioned centrally in the new Eastside community envisioned by the Burnside Bridgehead Framework plan. The ground floor is designed to be activated by storefront along Third Avenue with workspace above.

Sideyard, a mass timber, urban infill project by Skylab
Photograph © Stephen Miller

Designed by Skylab Architects, the 20,000-square-foot building integrates a new civic-oriented pedestrian stair down from the Burnside Bridge level to Third Avenue akin to the original stairs that previously existed. This wedge building features a CLT structural system with open, ground level, commuter-oriented retail environments for daily guests and tenants. The workspace above is wrapped in brick masonry with the building acting as an anchor for the Burnside Bridge and a gateway to the Eastside community.

Sideyard, a mass timber, urban infill project by Skylab
Photograph © Stephen Miller

The site is located at the geographic heart of the City of Portland and at the edge of the daily commuter flow of automobiles, bikes, and pedestrians. The development helps to strengthen the connection between the Eastside community and the Westside downtown urban core. Also located in the neighborhood is the world-renowned Burnside Skatepark, constructed on an adjacent leftover city space beneath the Burnside Bridge and leased to the skate community. The building development team has additionally leased a small space under the bridge adjacent to Sideyard and the skate park for food carts. This will extend the Third Avenue ground level retail environment into the forgotten and unused urban spaces full of creative potential.

Projects most important idea: “Finding a harmonious voice in this emerging neighborhood that is responsive and in tune with the modern vernacular. Placing a quoin upon an underutilized site to maximize the neighborhoods potential.

Skylab’s Jill Asselineau, Project Director

Since 1996, Key Development has been building uncommon places primarily in Bend, Hood River and Portland, Oregon. With every project they strive for a workable paradox: to fit into the surroundings while also standing out. Creating whole new opportunities for residents and businesses without unnecessarily disrupting historic precedents.

Sideyard | Project Details

  • Architects: Skylab Architects
  • Area:  20,000 sq.ft.
  • Year:  2020
  • Photographs:  Stephen Miller
  • City:  Portland, Oregon
  • Country:  The United States
  • Program
    LOCATION
    apartmentmagnifiercrossmenuchevron-down linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram