Further relief is near for Portland’s tight affordable housing market as construction draws to a close on Home Forward’s renovation of Fountain Place, a 74-unit historic multifamily residence at SW Salmon and SW 10th Ave. in downtown Portland. The redevelopment, which began during the early days of the pandemic, is on track for completion later this fall.

The core design-build team is comprised of Lorentz Bruun Construction, Peter Meijer Architect, structural engineer KPFF, mechanical plumbing engineer GLUMAC and affordable housing design specialists Salazar Architect Inc. 

“We are looking forward to safely completing these important renovations that will ensure we continue to house some of Portland’s most vulnerable neighbors for generations to come,” says Michael Buonocore, Home Forward’s executive director.  

Lorentz Bruun Construction placed almost 400,000 pounds of steel brace frames within the six-story structure. The seismic upgrade is a major part of extending the operational life of the existing building.

Built in 1911 by local millionaire and salmon cannery owner Frank M. Warren (who died the following year on the Titanic), Fountain Place was one of the first U-shaped buildings to be built in the area. As part of the project, the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 4, 2020.