Project Description
Oregon cities have long been cited as place of varied natural amenities, temperate climate, social engagement and low cost of living. Major industrial leaders have included Nike, Intel research facilities, and various wood manufacturing endeavors, as well as small-scaled entrepreneurs. Recently these conditions have also been cited in various articles about Oregon technology startups, listing three cities in the top 25, one in the top ten, and a recent article titled “Everyone is Moving to Oregon.” Terms such as TechTown Portland, Silicon Forest in Portland and Silicon Shire in Eugene have been used. The emergence and support of these agglomerations of small-scaled businesses demonstrates key values Oregon provides to socially-minded and bottom up driven communities.
The studio project this term will investigate the design for a mixed-use technology startup building in Portland’s Southeast Quadrant. The building should be designed to support flexible startup and growth of small and medium sized enterprises not limited to technology companies and should also consider “third spaces” for social interaction. Similar “flex buildings” include the Ford Building in Portland, 68 Jay Street in New York and Palo Alto in Barcelona. Manuel De Landa’s recent book Assemblage Theory and Social Assembly may provide a useful background to understand these buildings and the associated neighborhoods as related urban processes rather than collection of fixed characteristics of the city. Early research methods of the class will involve how we observe, measure and abstract qualities of the site that may ‘attach’ (Latour) later designs to the living organism of the urban site.
The location at the intersection of SE 12th Avenue and Division Street should contribute to rich urban interaction at the street-level including services along Division that contribute to walkability and livability, small-scale industrial businesses in the area and the nearby school and residences via Ladd’s Addition to the northeast. A new Milwaukee Alignment of TriMet’s street car system and new development along Division has made this area a growing place for young urban dwellers in the area. Projects should be design to ‘attach’ themselves to urban forces at the scale of the city, neighborhood, building organization, internal unit-module spaces and façade.
DeLanda, Manuel (2006) A New Philosophy of Society: assemblage theory and social complexity, London & New York: Continuum
Latour, B. (2005) ‘Reassembling the Social: An Introduction to Actor-Network-Theory’, Oxford; Oxford University Press.
Background
“THE NEXT TOP 10 CITIES FOR TECH JOBS” – Fast Company
Known as the Silicon Forest, Eugene is home to the natural beauty and culture of Oregon as well as a young and fast growing technology industry.
Recreation and Culture: Counter-cultural spirit, thriving indie rock scene, hiking, mountain biking, and access to skiing
http://www.fastcompany.com/3048391/the-future-of-work/the-next-top-10-cities-for-tech-jobs
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“Everybody is Moving to Oregon” – CNN MONEY
It has green forests and bike friendly cities, an abundance of craft beer, and — despite the rain — it’s where everyone wants to be.
http://money.cnn.com/2015/01/08/real_estate/oregon-moving/
“The 25 Best U.S. Cities for Tech Startups” – Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Entrepreneur
12, Corvalis, OR; 16. Bend, OR and 23, Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton, Ore.-Wash.
The research focuses on high-tech startups specifically, defining them as new businesses with a concentration of employees in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/227829
