The Encore | 175 feet | 15 floors | Complete

[crow]

Originally Posted by pdx2m2

thanks for the photo updates...

i like that they are finally wrapping the northwest decks with the white metal panel...looks like only one is done so far but I think it will look good and increase the visual power of the horizontal white bands.

i agree the white bands are really going to help stitch this together. hopefully it will liven up the otherwise brown palette.

[philopdx]

Update 4-19-08:

[philopdx]

Update 4-26-08:

[philopdx]

Update 5-10-08: Glass and Cladding Action

[MarkDaMan]

Two sent to hospital after explosion at NW Portland condo
Portland Tribune
KPAM 860, Jun 12, 2008

An explosion at a condominium building under construction in Northwest Portland sent two workers to the hospital on Thursday afternoon. One of those workers was electrocuted and seriously burned, fire officials said.

The blast happened at approximately 2 p.m.

“The burn victim was outside, was operating a drill into the ground and must have hit a power line that was connected into a mechanical room in the basement,” said Portland Fire Bureau Lt. Al Oswalt. “It blew out in the mechanical room and burned a significant amount of plastic off of the big wires down in that room.”

That put off a lot of smoke. The worker who was in the mechanical room at the time of the blast suffered smoke inhalation severe enough to be taken to Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital. Seven other workers rushed down to the basement to help. They too suffered smoke inhalation and were treated at the scene.

The worker who was electrocuted suffered burns to his arms and face and was taken to Legacy Emanuel Hospital. He was in critical condition, but he was expected to survive. Oswalt said he was alert and conscious when crews arrived.

“With the amount of electricity involved…he is lucky to be alive,” Oswalt said.

The 13-story Encore Condos are located at 949 NW Overton St.

Oswalt said Oregon OSHA would be investigating.

http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/print_story.php?story_id=121331629967104900

[philopdx]

Update 7-5-2008: This one's almost a wrap, as far as external work goes.

[NewUrbanist]

Happened to be walking past the Encore last night on my way home. I saw a slew of Service Master vehicles out front and asked on of the guys standing around what happened. He had an Thyseen Krupp shirt on and offered me some crazy information about the Encore.

From what I understand, this Monday a water main burst in a 9th floor condo of the Encore. Water poured off the balcony, which is the first sign of a problem, but the security guard not realizing that something was wrong, didn't report it. When the building manager arrived on Tuesday, the condo was flooded with a foot and half of water and had been gushing out into the central corridors, stairwells, and down through the elevator shaft.

The water moved through the whole building, destroying the hardwood floors and the lower portions of the italian cabinets of any condo whose front door was slightly ajar, which was many. There was some serious damage to corridor carpets, and drywall. The damage also included the mechanical systems of the elevators and filled the lower floor of the parking lot.

Too bad, as the building was nearing completion and had model units ready for viewing. From the outside, the building looked pretty top notch, but still a little conservative in its design.

[pdxman]

^^^Wow, that is very bad news. So what the heck happens now?

[NewUrbanist]

From what I understand, first is a million dollar plus clean up job to remove all of the water. Than an assessment of the damage caused, and then a full tear out of the problem areas. They will likely need to tear out drywall, carpets, and hardwoods (ie. Patch jobs).

Though, since this will likely fall to the insurance company, I would be surprised if there were any long lasting mold issues in the building.

My buddy worked for Service Master until a few months ago, and he showed me a neat tool they used. Fireman use it to detect hot spots in buildings, but it also works for cold ones too... Its a laser pointed thermometer that can show cold spots of water damage. Nifty tool for clean up.

[CouvScott]

Wood floors, insulation and elevator control panel are damaged just before tower work was scheduled to finish

POSTED: 04:00 AM PDT Tuesday, August 26, 2008
BY TYLER GRAF

Eight weeks before construction on the Encore condominium tower was set to finish, the building found itself left out to dry.

Literally.

Last week, the under-construction project experienced significant water damage resulting from a supply valve leak on the building’s ninth floor. The leak damaged wood floors, insulation, cooked portions of the elevator’s control panel and has delayed the construction schedule for the 15-story, curved condo tower.

The leak started in a ninth-story unit, when a brass casting on a water supply valve cracked.

The water seeped through the floor panels and made its way to the elevator shaft.

Through the elevator shaft, the water dripped and seeped its way to the basement, where it caused insulation damage to the top of the roof of the building’s underground parking garage.

Wood floors throughout the complex were warped due to the water damage, said Doug Shapiro, head of construction for the Encore’s development team at Hoyt Street Properties. Andersen Construction is providing general contractor services for the project.

Portions of the building drenched hardest by the leak were dehumidified; the wood flooring will be replaced. The elevator’s control panel will have to be replaced as well.

The water damage is being addressed, but Tiffany Sweitzer of Hoyt Street Properties expects delays due to the leak and resulting cleanup.

Neither Hoyt Street Properties nor the building’s contractor have set a new timetable for the building’s completion, according to Shapiro.

The monetary value of the damage, too, has yet to be calculated. Shapiro and Andersen Construction are still working out how to quantify the amount of damage done.

“This can’t happen,” Shapiro said. “Evaluating this, clearly it was the (supply valve) manufacturer’s fault.”

Still, Shapiro sees the leak as a teachable moment. Regardless of the root cause, leaks often happen, and they can be devastating if no one is around to catch them.

Shapiro is looking into investing in an alarm system that would notify workers of inconsistent flow rates, which is often a clear sign of a leak.

He may also institute what’s known as a “fire watch” for the remainder of the Encore’s construction schedule, in which the building would be monitored by a guard after hours. The water leak occurred at approximately 7 p.m. on Aug. 18, after construction workers had left the site.

It has been a rough summer for the Encore. In June, a small explosion rocked the Encore when a worker drilled into an electrical feed. The Andersen Construction employee suffered from burns and smoke inhalation. Eight other workers also suffered from smoke inhalation.

“It’s been a frustrating summer for us,” Shapiro said. “We were so close.”

[pdxcrow]

Would be interesting to know how many of these brass castings there are. If it truly is the manufacturer's fault then the others could go in the future.

[Leo]

That can't be good for sales ...

If I was a potential buyer, I would be concerned about what other parts are going to break after I buy. I've had to deal with new construction defects in my previous condo, and I wouldn't wish that experience on anyone ...

[rsbear]

Originally Posted by Leo

That can't be good for sales ...

If I was a potential buyer, I would be concerned about what other parts are going to break after I buy. I've had to deal with new construction defects in my previous condo, and I wouldn't wish that experience on anyone ...

I hear ya - I've been lucky and had almost no problems in my new condo, but some of my neighbors have been through hell, almost all dealing with plumbing. Glad I'm on the top floor.

[smendesPDX]

yea this freaks me out, and once you tear up materials and re install, its still never the same again

[CouvScott]

HOYT Continues Support for Art Community with Installation of Sculpture
Portland Sculptor Ivan Mclean designed the piece specifically for The Encore
PORTLAND, Ore. (May, 2009) – The Encore is now home to “Rational Exuberance,” a 7,000-pound metal sculpture created by Portland artist Ivan Mclean. Inspired by the curved shape of The Encore and of the Fremont Bridge, the piece is located outside the entrance to the building and next to the site of The Fields, the area’s largest planned park.
“Rational Exuberance” is three vibrant yellow ribbons of steel woven together, and is described by Mclean as being a “harbinger of spring.” At 50’ long and 10’ high, it is still at a human scale and allows park visitors to walk around and through it.
“Ivan is a talented artist, and has provided us with an upbeat and striking sculpture that truly enhances The Encore environment,” said Doug Shapiro, VP of construction for HOYT Realty Group. “Our tenants and neighbors have told us what a welcome addition this piece of art is to the north part of the Pearl.”
The sculpture is on loan from Mclean and will remain on The Encore property until construction on The Fields begins in early 2010. At that time, the parks department can choose to purchase the sculpture as a permanent fixture of the park. The Fields is a three-acre green space, with open areas, a boardwalk, tree-lined trails, theme gardens and a children’s area planned.
HOYT is a strong supporter of the local art scene, and has incorporated works by Portland artists into several of its residential projects. A little over a year before The Metropolitan was completed in fall 2007, HOYT launched a design competition to commission a $25,000 piece of art for the condo project’s two-story lobby. The result was a one-of-a-kind piece made from small rectangular glass shards.
About The Artist
Ivan Mclean came to Portland in1996 after traveling all over the US creating unique furniture and art pieces. Working with materials ranging from kiln formed glass to carved wood and stone, Mclean’s art can be found all over Portland and the Northwest. The Nines Hotel, OSU School of Forestry, Lawrence Gallery and the Pinnacle Condos are among the many locations currently featuring Mclean’s work.
About The Encore
Designed by architects BOORA Inc. and defined by its prime location and distinctive curved design, The Encore frames picturesque vistas of the Fremont Bridge, Willamette River and Cascade Mountain peaks. The project boasts an unmatched proximity to The Fields, the area’s largest planned park, and Centennial Mills, an urban renewal and neighborhood project.
The Encore is set to achieve a LEED silver designation. The building’s sustainable features include energy-efficient mechanical systems, eco-friendly glazing, and storm water retention to feed designed landscaping that replaces a retired gravel road. Residents also have easy access to the Portland Streetcar and a variety of shopping, including grocery stores, boutiques, restaurants and art galleries.
Primarily residential, the 16-story project also features multilevel live/work units and street-level commercial space. Condominium homes range from contemporary studio loft suites to luxury townhouses and penthouses. The Encore is located on NW Overton Street between 9th and 10th Avenues. Available units range from 693 – 2,521 square feet, and range in price from $261,000 to $1,991,500.
HOYT is the largest developer of land in Portland’s Pearl District. The group is responsible for spearheading the urban renewal zone that starts at the heart of the Pearl and extends north. The neighborhood has evolved into a vibrant multiuse community and a model for urban planners around the world. www.hoytliving.com
Media Inquiries:
Marilyn Andersen
503.227.2000
[email protected]

[sowat]

speaking of "dead", sales at the Encore look grim, even Waterfront Pearl has outsold it:


July 09, courtesy of http://agent503.com/

hopefully for everyone's sake, "dead" is a bit extreme, but it's unlikely the RE market [nationwide] will return to any kind of frothy speculative bubble again for at least 10 years.

[2oh1]

Originally Posted by sowat

speaking of "dead", sales at the Encore look grim, even Waterfront Pearl has outsold it

Good lord. It must be downright creepy for the few people who live there. They're living in a giant empty building.

[philopdx]

I wouldn't touch anything on the bottom 7 floors after the flooding incident, even at a heavily discounted price.

[MightyAlweg]

Originally Posted by sowat

speaking of "dead", sales at the Encore look grim, even Waterfront Pearl has outsold it:


July 09, courtesy of http://agent503.com/

hopefully for everyone's sake, "dead" is a bit extreme, but it's unlikely the RE market [nationwide] will return to any kind of frothy speculative bubble again for at least 10 years.

That's an amazing chart! It really displays how overbuilt the Portland condo market is. And since so many of those units will have to be rented out by unlucky investors, the apartment market is overbuilt too.

I would not be at all surprised to not see another housing development over three stories sprout anywhere west of the Willamette River until the end of this new decade.

2018? 2019? 2020?

[mmeade]

I would love to see an update of that graph. The graph is just about six months old, and it would be very telling to see what the changes have been. My understanding is that the auction and subsequent marketing have sold quite a few units in the Atwater, for one. There are also several new apartment buildings that have come online since then that would be interesting to include.