The Meriwether Starts River Blocks Development

Portland - Construction started in April on The Meriwether, the first project of many scheduled for construction through 2010 on 38 acres of South Waterfront property called the River Blocks.

Developed by Williams & Dame and Gerding/Edlen, both of Portland, the two high-rise condominium towers were named in tribute to Portland's connection with the Lewis and Clark expedition.

Of the 245 units in the 21 and 24 storied towers, there will be 26 penthouse suites, 203 suites and 16 townhouses.

The Meriwether's architects are GBD and Busby + Associates. Hoffman Construction is the construction manager.

The River Blocks development is a public/private partnership between the developers, the City of Portland, the Portland Development Commission and Oregon Health and Sciences University (OHSU). An aerial tram scheduled for completion in March 2006 will provide a link between the blocks and OHSU.

In Line Transforms Hospital's East Entry

Portland - Recently completed work at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center's east pavilion has resulted in a new look as visitors enter the hospital.

In Line Commercial Construction transformed a simple coffee cart at the East Pavilion entry into "MJ's at Vinnie's," a permanent, 20 ft. by 15 ft. wrap-around installation that blends into the existing Vinnie's Café, allowing for both a shared kitchen and a shared style. Architect David Johnson of Jon R. Jurgens Architects designed the renovation.

Other In Line work at the East Pavilion includes an upgraded information desk, new carpet, wall coverings, and sprinkler and fire alarm systems, designed by Elaine Dabrowski of Anderson Dabrowksi Architects.

New Condos Feature Ground Level Retail

Portland - Tigard, Ore., general contractor Gray Purcell, Inc. recently completed the two-story, 36,211-sq.-ft. Hawthorne Condominiums project on SE 34th and Hawthorne.

The ground floor level houses retail tenants, including Dosha Spa and Salon, Imelda's Designer Shoes, Cold Stone Ice Cream, and Noodlin', while the upper levels offer 16 two-story townhomes ranging in size from 1,046 sq. ft. to 1,404 sq. ft.

The loft-like units are lit with natural light with vast expanses of glass and high vaulted ceilings. They each boast at least two bedrooms and two bathrooms, and the use of a single car garage, a precious amenity in this dense urban neighborhood.

One of the most interesting features of the mixed-use project is the 7,600-sq. ft. salon, Dosha Hawthorne. The salon's entry is through a sunken "living room" with central fireplace, overhead waterfall and an open-plan design. The spa features eight multifunction treatment rooms, an endless pool, an aromatherapy steam room, and a vichy rain shower room with seven shower heads.

Vallaster & Corl of Portland and TM Rippey Consulting Engineers of Tigard provided design services on this project.

Hunt and Wildish Partner On OSU Parking Garage

Hunt Construction Group's Western regional office and joint venture partner Wildish Building Co. of Eugene, Ore., have been awarded the new $12 million Oregon State University parking garage project in Corvallis, Ore.

When completed in August 2005, the project will consist of 300,000 sq. ft. on five levels and have the capacity to house 1,000 vehicles.

Hunt-Wildish is currently serving as the construction manager/general contractor on the expansion of OSU's Reser Stadium. The scope of work includes an expansion on the east side of the stadium as well as a new covered second level of suites and seats. When complete, the stadium will be 300,000 sq. ft. and feature 43,000 seats.

Wilsonville Project Wins CRSI Design Award

Wilsonville - The Wilsonville Water Treatment plant here recently won a design award from the Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute of Schaumburg, Ill. The award was bestowed during the institute's 17th biennial Design Awards Competition.

Entries were evaluated based oon four criteria: design innovation, contextual response, engineering excellence, and construction quality and efficiency.

The WWTP's team included architects Miller Hull Partnership, structural engineer/general contractor Montgomery Watson Harza, and owner City of Wilsonville.

Another northwest project - the Fisher Pavilion at Seattle Center in Seattle, Wash., also won a design award in the competition.