The Mid-Century Architects and Builders of Portland

Like many western US cities, Portland experienced a tremendous amount of new development in the two plus decades after the end of World War II. This program provides an overview of some of the notable architects and builders who shaped Portland area buildings styles in the Atomic Age.

While the seeds of Modern and Northwest Regional architecture had been planted by the 1930s and the work of A.E. Doyle, John Yeon, and Pietro Belluschi, after World War II a new breed of architects and builders left their mark on Portland’s built environment. Please join us as AHC Education Manager, Val Ballestrem shares images and stories of some of the more prolific and interesting architects and builders from this era. In addition to architects such as John Storrs – a master of Northwest Regional architecture, you’ll also learn about Warren Weber, whose church buildings are some of the most unique of the era. There were also numerous home designer/builders during this era. Ken Birkemeier may be one of the most well-known, but Val will also shed light on some not-so-well-known builders like, Hallberg and Ted Asbahr. In the end we hope you’ll recognize that affordable quality home construction did not come to a halt at the outset of World War II, but continued until well into the 1960s when quality building materials started to become too expensive for the average home buyer.

Sponsored by: Arciform

This lecture program is held at the Architectural Heritage Center - 701 SE Grand Avenue

Parking is on-street (free on Saturdays) or in the parking lot on the west side of Grand Avenue between SE Yamhill and Belmont Streets - just to the north of the Grand Marketplace. Do not use the lot where Dutch Bros. Coffee is located. Thank you to Bolliger and Sons Insurance for sharing their lot with us for our evening and Saturday education programs.