Photo by: Gingi Tilbury

Photo by: Gingi Tilbury

Photo by: Gingi Tilbury

Harlow Hotel

Location: Portland, Oregon

Year Constructed: 1882

Work Completed: 2019

Nominator: Arciform

Project Budget: $8M

DeMuro Award Recognizes: Oregon Heritage, Reuse, Federal Historic Tax Credit,  

 

History: The Harlow Hotel is a three-story Italianate brick building with arcuated fenestration. Built in 1882, it is believed to be the second oldest commercial structure in its neighborhood. In the 1930s, the hotel and its storefronts were managed by Japanese American proprietors who were later sent to internment camps after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Following the war, Japanese Americans returned as residents and proprietors until the building was shuttered in 1972. In 2008, the hotel was purchased by Ganesh and Pinky Sonpatki who operate several moderately-priced hotels under the Portland Value Inns brand. 

 

Overview: Until recently, the only guests at this historic hotel were pigeons who checked in through broken windows. These days, following a major interior and exterior overhaul, human visitors can enjoy private baths with heated towel racks, and rich textiles and finishes including velvet, geometric textured headboards, and natural metals and glass evoking the Art Deco style. Exterior brick has been repointed, the foundation has been strengthened, and interior wall framing has been replaced with steel posts and beams. Parapet bracing, a new elevator shaft, concrete shear walls, and steel brace frames have been added as part of unreinforced masonry seismic retrofitting along with new wood windows and transoms. Historic cornices have been either repaired or replaced, and insulated glass has been added to the reweighted windows. New doors have been created for each entrance, and a side staircase was completely rebuilt, replacing all stair parts including the turned balusters and newels. Renovations on the hotel began in 2009, and work was completed a decade later thanks in part to a federal Historic Tax Credit.

 

Congratulations to the entire project team:

Arciform

Chesshir Architecture PC

Param Hotel Group

DCI

Mega Pacific GC

WCI, Wholesale Commercial Interiors

Anctil / Bachofner Electric/ Paramount Electric / Western Plumbing

Heritage Consulting Group

Versatile Wood Products

Wood Originals, Inc

Apex Build & Remodel

EC Electrical

Pacific Fitness Products llc

Big Idea PDX