The Pittock Block is a historic building in downtown Portland, Oregon, occupying a city block between SW 9th and 10th Avenues, SW Stark and Washington Streets, and west of O'Bryant Square.

Pittock Block
Portland Historic Landmark[2]
View of the Washington Street face.
Pittock Block is located in Portland, Oregon
Pittock Block
Pittock Block is located in Oregon
Pittock Block
Pittock Block is located in the United States
Pittock Block
Location921 SW Washington Street
Portland, Oregon
Coordinates45°31′17″N 122°40′51″W / 45.521513°N 122.680711°W / 45.521513; -122.680711
Built1914/1923
ArchitectDoyle & Patterson
Architectural styleChicago school
NRHP reference No.87001507 [1]
Added to NRHPSeptember 8, 1987[3]

History edit

Before the Pittock Block was built, the site was occupied by the home of Henry L. Pittock, the publisher of The Oregonian. Pittock was preparing to move into the Pittock Mansion and leased the entire block to a California investor with the requirement that a "worthy" building named after Pittock would be built on the site.[4]

In May 1913, architects Doyle, Patterson & Beach announced they had been awarded the $700,000 contract to construct the Pittock Block, with construction to begin immediately. According to a front-page story in the May 25, 1913, edition of The Oregonian:[5]"One-half of the building will be eight stories in height, with frontage on the Washington Street side, while the Stark Street side will be three stories high. In addition to a deep basement there will be a sub-basement on the part of the block facing Tenth street. The Northwestern Electric Company, for which the structure is to be erected, will occupy a part of the West Park street side and all of the ground floor on the Stark Street side. The remainder of the ground floor will be designed for stores. The upper floors will be used for office purposes. The building will be of reinforced concrete construction."

Since 1987, it has been on the National Register of Historic Places.[6]

Tenants edit

The Pittock Block is home to the Pittock Internet Exchange (Portland NAP), Portland's Internet exchange point.[7][8][9] Other tenants of the Pittock Block include City Club of Portland[10] and the administrative offices of the Oregon Symphony.[11]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. ^ Portland Historic Landmarks Commission (July 2010), Historic Landmarks -- Portland, Oregon (XLS), retrieved November 13, 2013.
  3. ^ Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, Oregon Historic Sites Database, retrieved November 16, 2013.
  4. ^ King, Bart: An Architectural Guidebook to Portland, pp. 42-43. Gibbs Smith, 2001
  5. ^ "Pittock Block to Rise: Contract is Let for $700,000 Building on Washingston Street". The Oregonian. University of Oregon, Knight Library. May 25, 1913. p. 1. Retrieved 2013-03-17.
  6. ^ "Oregon National Register List" (PDF). Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. June 6, 2011. p. 38. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 25, 2018. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  7. ^ "'NWAX' exchange brings three schools together. (Internet)". Business Journal-Portland. 2001-12-07.
  8. ^ Earnshaw, Aliza (2002-05-05). "Tyco checks into telco hotel".
  9. ^ Heinz, Spencer (May 21, 2001). "Historic Pittock Block houses a garden of Internet delights". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2013-03-17.
  10. ^ City Club space renovated in Pittock Block, a November 23, 2011 article from Daily Journal of Commerce
  11. ^ About Oregon Symphony from the Symphony's website

External links edit