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.
新总部面积约为10,752平方英尺,建筑位于两座原建于20世纪40年代的预制钢结构仓库内,这些建筑最初为泰坦金属制品公司(Titan Metal Products Corp.)所建。Skylab在保留拱形结构的工业风格的同时,有针对性地融入了现代元素。北立面和南立面新增的大面积玻璃幕墙,以及东立面四面10英尺X10英尺的可开启窗墙,显著提升了自然采光和空间连通性。中央天窗的跨度从40英尺延长至60英尺,使自然光能够深入东部建筑内部。
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.
建筑设计:Skylab Architecture
类型:办公建筑/商业建筑
面积:10752平方英尺
项目时间:2024年
摄影:Stephen Miller, Eric Fortier
景观建筑:2.ink Studio
土木工程顾问:Humber Design Group
结构顾问:Valar Consulting Engineering
机械顾问:Jacobs Consultancy, Inc.
总承包商:Lorentz Bruun Construction
主创团队:Jeff Kovel, Brent Grubb, Nita Posada,
设计团队:Jennifer Martin, Amy DeVall
建筑与室内设计:Skylab Architecture
城市:波特兰
国家:美国
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