Daimler Trucks North America celebrated the April 19th opening of its innovative new US headquarters on Swan Island in North Portland. As the landscape architects and visual communications designers for the project, we enjoyed touring the completed campus that takes advantage of the riverfront site and numerous flexible, social spaces.
The sophisticated site design reflects the industrial setting through concrete and stainless steel elements in the plazas and entryways surrounding the building. A generous terrace and lawn gives way to a restored riverbank. A new segment of Willamette Greenway Trail features a large river overlook built on the foundation of a prior structure. Campus stormwater is managed through a variety of methods including an ecoroof and a south terrace water feature that directs rainwater from the building’s roof to treatment swales. Mayer/Reed’s interior and exterior signage design includes a massive identity monument in mirror-surface stainless steel inspired by Daimler’s state-of-the art vehicle engineering and design.
Over the next few weeks, employees once located in internally-focused offices away from the Willamette River, will move into their new glassy spaces with views of the downtown skyline. The new headquarters, targeted to be LEED platinum, ushers in an era of contemporary company culture where employees are encouraged to collaborate across disciplines in a cutting edge, sustainable environment.
Friends of the Children Grand Opening
Congratulations to Friends of the Children-Portland on the grand opening of their new facility in Rockwood, Oregon. The non-profit that provides professional mentors to at-risk children celebrated the opening with community members at an evening open house with activities in the state-of-the-art community kitchen, garden, gym and technology center.
We are honored Mayer/Reed was asked to design the building signage and donor recognition incorporated into the entry courtyard gate. The design is inspired by the vision that one-to-one mentorship creates a ripple of influence and generational change.
Growing a New Wine Tasting Experience
A new experience is taking shape in Oregon’s wine country. Nestled atop the Dundee Hills, Domaine Serene has begun construction on a new hospitality clubhouse that will transform this long-established winery. The Clubhouse at Domaine Serene will provide guests with a world-class winery experience. As the site planners and landscape architects, we are honored to assist owners Ken and Grace Evenstad in creating their legacy project.
We are working closely with Waterleaf Architecture and Schommer & Sons Construction to position the new facilities within this dramatic landscape. Our design of the arrival sequence will create a sense of anticipation that culminates in a welcoming entry courtyard and a signature allee of Italian cypress trees. Terraces for wine tasting will wrap the clubhouse, offering spectacular panoramic views of the vineyards, the Dundee Hills, and the Cascade Mountains beyond.
Domaine Serene’s owners greatly value the property’s native white oak savanna and the habitat that it provides. The expansion affords an opportunity to preserve and restore a large tract of oaks, which, combined with other sustainable elements we’ve designed, heightens the site’s ecological sustainability. This is an important model for the region’s winemaking story.
The clubhouse will be complete in the summer of 2017. Until then, I am counting the days until I can sit on the terrace, take in the views, and enjoy a delicious glass of Evenstad Reserve pinot noir.
Bicycle Tourism Gets a Boost in Oregon
Bicycle tourism is growing and generating “eye-opening” economic impact. Travel Oregon’s Bicycle Tourism Studio provides communities with planning and financial assistance to kick-start bicycle-based economic development. Mayer/Reed has been working with Travel Oregon to develop design strategies for bike and recreation-based place making, identity and wayfinding in places like Oakridge/West Fir, Mosier and Hood River.
Recently we were commissioned to design a logo and style guide for the Gorge Hubs. These community-operated “rest stops” for hikers, bicyclists and recreationalists will provide support amenities while promoting exploration of local experiences. We dove deep to understand how to leverage the “hub” concept into a statewide program with coordinated marketing and signage applications. The logo creates an identity for welcome centers in 6 communities along the Historic Columbia River Highway and State Trail. The style guide addresses applications for signage, maps, print and digital media.