SoWA pictures

[Sioux612]

Wow! Thanks for the pictures. I gotta admit the Atwater is turning out to be my favorite project! It's definately turning out a lot better than I expected. So it appears the Alexan will have above ground parking? More surface parking in SoWa?

[tworivers]

Fantastic pictures, Dougall. Are you shooting raw?

When I was down there last week, it looked like the block north of Meriwether was prepped for building. Could be the next one to go? Then 37?

Agree about all the above-ground parking, especially for a district with so little road capacity. There's something incongruous about seeing so much space being made for cars when everyone has been warning of the need for reliance on mass transit to get in and out of the area.

[GreenCity]

Pictures look fantastic Dougall, what do you shoot with?

I personally dig the larger format images. It allows me to examine the details, even though I can't get down there myself to see it live.

[Dougall5505]

Fantastic pictures, Dougall. Are you shooting raw?

honestly I haven't looked into raw yet, do you use it? maybe I should check it out.
when I look at the pictures on your site the sky always looks so blue, do you use photoshop or does it just happen?

t looked like the block north of Meriwether was prepped for building. Could be the next one to go? Then 37?

block 49 might be starting soon too

Pictures look fantastic Dougall, what do you shoot with?

I personally dig the larger format images. It allows me to examine the details, even though I can't get down there myself to see it live.

nikon D50, i like the big pics too!

[zilfondel]

^ Nice shots! I really want to get a Nikon D50 too... its on my mile-long wish list. =P


What are they going to do with the big pits they leave next to these towers? I assume the adjacent tower - whenever built - will fill it in with below-ground parking and stuff. Kind of strange tho, to be able to see the below-grade parts of the building, even when almost complete...

[MarkDaMan]

I like the larger format too Dougall...another terrific update. The SoWa is so...different than the rest of Portland. And I have to agree, the Atwater is probably the highest quality building yet, for as much as I expected from the John Ross and was let down, I wasn't expecting anything from the Atwater and now sit and drool at it.



um, is terrorism not a problem in Portland? Who's bright idea was it to leave a PROPANE TANK at such a vulnerable spot...that thing goes boom, the tram isn't going to work right!

[GreenCity]

And why exactly is there a barbeque at the Tram?

[sirsimon]

Dougall's 100% raw, baby, just look at his photos - gah-geous!!

[Bokimon]

Hello All,
I am looking through projects in thsi city for the first time.
This city is very impressive with architectural design, projects such as the John Ross with a very high quality level of design.
Nicely done Portland.
I live in Calgary, Canada so I am always on that thread at SSP.
Reason why I am gracing here is because in July I am planning on making a drive to Portland via Yellowstone and since I have never been to Oregon, I wonder if anybody here can recommend places of interest worth visiting in this city.
I notice in one of the shots there is a gondola of some sort nearby and also the Zoo along that highway with the dense forest to the west.
I am also interested in places of interest along the I84 highway between Pocatello-Boise-PENDLETON-PORTLAND link.
I know the highway goes along the columbia river so there must be some waterfalls or canyons or lakes along the way to stop by.
Mainly I am into the whole nature, waterstuff, caves, mountains, geography, geology, and historic elements+science. Oh ya Architecture too!

Any help would be appreciated, thanks and keep it up with the developments.
Your city was actually featured on the news here in Calgary some months back about the whole redevelopment around that riverfront. I am impressed.
This is Calgary's thread with this city's list of projects.
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=128010&page=1
For those interested construction photos are now made in a separate thread since there are so many projects underway, This photo thread was created last weekend.
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=131629

[flux73]

Hey all,
Haven't posted here in awhile. Got a new camera and I live down here, so I figure it's time to contribute some architecture porn.

[zilfondel]

Nice pics! What kind of camera?

[der Reisender]

thanks for sharing flux, put up more anytime, they look great

[flux73]

Originally Posted by zilfondel

Nice pics! What kind of camera?

Leica M8. Hellishly expensive, but worth every penny with the pics I've gotten out of it so far.

[flux73]

Hi Bokimon,
With regards to I-84, I haven't been out much further than The Dalles, but I know a few more hours east of there near the Idaho border, there is Hells Canyon National Park. Friends of mine who have been out there have shown me some amazing pictures. You have to take a slight NE detour from Baker City.

After that, depending on your timeframe for travel, you might find it worth your while to take a detour from Pendleton or Hermiston to go to Condon, OR to see the windmill farms. But that's not the main reason to take the detour. Just a little south of Condon, is town called Mitchell which is located near the John Day Fossil Beds Painted Hills Unit. SPECTACULAR scenery. I take it back - it's definitely worth the time. After that, go back North to The Dalles (you'll skip a chunk of 84), stop by the Burgerville and get yourself an awesome NW burger from our best fastfood chain.

When you head west on 84, you'll pass an exit for a town called Rowena. Get off and go towards the Columbia River Scenic Highway (30). Go west on the CRSH towards Mosier. The road will go winding up to a place called Rowena Crest. If the winding road looks familiar, it should. Many car commercials were filmed there (the ones where you see a lone car winding along some really curvy road). At the top, there's the lookout point which is nice, but on the other side of the road, there's also a short hike at the Tom McCall conservatory park. All have amazing scenic views.

After that, continue west on CRSH until you get to a town called Mosier. There you can do another short hike called Mosier Twin Tunnels, but if you're short on time, this is one you could probably skip. It's a paved path hike and scenery is good, but not any better than Rowena Crest. At Mosier, you can get back on 84 and head west again. Stop off in Hood River if you want to see one of Oregon's resort towns. If you feel like splurging, there are lots of really good gourmet restaurants in town. If it's hot, stop by Mike's ice cream and get some...ice cream! Go by the beach and check out the windsurfers and kiteboarders.

Continue on 84 and about 30 minutes later, you'll see an exit for Multnomah Falls. It's about a one hour hike (up and back) if you just do a straight shot. If you have time, I recommend not just stopping at the top of the falls, but continuing along a trail there that takes you up a bit further to Devil's Rest. There's a great viewpoint there. Then come down Wakheena Trail that eventually joins up to Angel's Rest. You'll see a couple more falls along the way (Fairy Falls and Wakheena Falls). Eventually you end up at the Bridal Veil trailhead from which you have to walk about a half mile by the road to get back to Multnomah Falls parking lot. Here's a link in case you're confused about the directions I just gave: http://www.nwhiker.com/CGNSAHike12.html

After that, next stop is Portland, OR. I'll let someone else give you suggestions for P-town.

Originally Posted by Bokimon

Reason why I am gracing here is because in July I am planning on making a drive to Portland via Yellowstone and since I have never been to Oregon, I wonder if anybody here can recommend places of interest worth visiting in this city.
I notice in one of the shots there is a gondola of some sort nearby and also the Zoo along that highway with the dense forest to the west.
I am also interested in places of interest along the I84 highway between Pocatello-Boise-PENDLETON-PORTLAND link.
I know the highway goes along the columbia river so there must be some waterfalls or canyons or lakes along the way to stop by.
Mainly I am into the whole nature, waterstuff, caves, mountains, geography, geology, and historic elements+science. Oh ya Architecture too!

[WonderlandPark]

In response to Flux's suggestions, which are excellent, you may want to try the other side of the Gorge, from Washington Hwy 14.

Start this tour by exiting I-84 at Biggs and taking US 97 across the river, climb the steep hill towards Goldendale, but only about 4 miles up or so you come to Hwy 14. Take a right and see a replica of Stonehenge set high on the side of some hills, the views are excellent. A short drive west is the Maryhill Museum. Another great view and picnic spot is there. The museum is famous for its Rodin Sculptures, for some reason, they have a bunch of them and a nice explanation of the lost-wax process. Also a wild modern "landscape" installation, but it is a bit sagging due to poor workmanship, but cool nonetheless.

Hwy 14 is two lanes, but scenic. As you head west, you will drop down to the Columbia river side. The highway (and the railroad next to it) have an amazing number of tunnels.

If you want to detour, you can take the road to Trout Lake. Right outside the town is an excellent view of Mt. Adams, one of the mighty Cascade volcanoes. After that, you may want to pick up a Gifford Pincot Forest Map, because there are lots of sights rolling on the backroads up there. Don't worry, most are well marked and fine for 2WD (I drive a Civic). Up there are ice caves, wide open lava fields, lakes. But the ice caves and lava tubes are especially special.

Here are some links to the ice caves:
http://www.a2zgorge.info/area/GulerIceCaves.htm

and the lava tubes a.k.a the "Ape Caves":
http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/recreation/ape-cave/index.shtml

You will be pretty close to the south side of Mt. St. Helens at this point. And there is devastation on this side to bear witness to, although the big blowout is facing north.

At this point, it may not seem like it, but you are pretty close to Portland.

You can connect back to "civilization" by taking WA 503 or come out at Battleground, WA. This area is rugged and beautiful.

If you have less time and just want to stay along the Columbia River, just stay on the 14 and see the stunning Bridge of the Gods and the Columbia Gorge Museum, both outside Stevenson. Further along is an excellent short but steep hike up Beacon Rock. The views are amazing, including Bonneville Dam. After that continue along 14 towards Camas and on into Portland, stopping at some more of the viewpoints.

[WonderlandPark]

As far as Eastern Oregon goes, outside of Baker City, everything worth seeing is a long detour (Wallowa Lake being first, but 2 hours off the interstate). Baker City has a great downtown, some decent food and history. Nearby is the Oregon Trail museum. Most of the rest of E. Oregon is pretty desolate, although the Blue Mountains are nice. Pendleton is worth a drive-through, but it will likely be triple digits outside.

[PacificNW]

I grew up in La Grande......it's a great place to live for people who love the outdoors. Plus, the state university is located in La Grande so it has more cultural than either Pendleton or Baker City which are basically cowboy towns. (And, it doesn't take 2 hours, by car, to get from La Grande to Wallowa).. Pendleton is in the middle of wheat fields....boring!

[Bokimon]

Thanks guys for your help.
That Multnomah waterfalls, no wonder it looks familiar. It has been in my calendars for a number of years whenever I bought one showing pictures of waterfalls. That and Proxy falls. Speaking of which how much of a pain is it to get there?
That columbia river gorge area certainly looks impressive, I cant wait to check it out for myself. I never thought about the WA side but maybe I might consider that. That lava tubes and stonehenge sounds very interesting.

I am also interested in Portland itself and surrounding cities and recommendations to the pacific coast. I want to drive down the highway down the oregon coast for about 100 or so miles just to take in all the beauty of the ocean. And also stop by at some of the beaches to put my feet into the water.The area around Gold Coast/Oregon Dunes and maybe Astoria? There is a huge ass long bridge there.

Many of my info I am actually using google maps to pintpoint areas of interest and finding of best and quickest routes. I also plan to spend at least 3 days in Portland visiting surrounding areas and the city itself.
Also how long of a drive is it to get to Crater Lake and Redwood forest from Portland? (from what i see, it will be too far away for a day trip.)

[PacificNW]

If you come down the Oregon Coast you can continue to Crescent City, CA. The Redwoods are in their backyard....back in the late 60's I helped the survey crews who were establishing the boundaries for the Redwood Park system.

After that visit you can swing on over to I-5 and head north back towards Portland and take a detour off the interstate to visit Crater Lake..

By the way, the Oregon Dunes down here (along with the Coast Line are incredible!).

[MarkDaMan]

^that really is a long ass day trip, maybe if you could build in time to spend the night somewhere, it's doable and worth the trip. If you want a scenic day trip to the coast I'd suggest taking highway 26 west to highway 6 west to the 101 north. The drive up 6 will keep you out of the heavier traffic on 26 and is absolutely spectacular with old growth and new forests lining the road. Once you hit 101 you end up going through tons of little coastal towns, large scenic cliffs, and a couple bays. Tillamook has a cheesy cheese factory/museum that is free, but has great ice cream. Seaside is the 'touristy' city and is worth a stroll. Continue up to Astoria and you are right, it is one helluva bridge you have to cross once in your life. Come back over to the Oregon side and take highway 30 back to Portland. On a side plus, once you hit Portland you will see the St. John's Bridge, Portland's most beautiful bridge that hardly gets the attention it deserves. The rest of highway 30, about five miles, runs through our heavy industrial district (no photo opps there) and into NW Portland, a fantastic place to grab dinner.