Skylab HQ: Adaptive Reuse as a Platform for Design, Fabrication, and Community
Presented by Jeff Kovel, Founding Principal & Design Director, Skylab Architecture
CE Pending
This presentation explores the transformation of Skylab Architecture’s headquarters in Portland’s Northwest Industrial District—an adaptive reuse of a 10,752 sq ft 1950s warehouse complex into a studio, fabrication shop, and cultural venue. The project reimagines two steel warehouse structures as a flexible environment for architectural practice, experimentation, and public engagement. The main studio is located within a renovated Quonset hut which brought a number of technical challenges and design opportunities.
The session will examine strategies for preserving the building’s industrial character while introducing new architectural insertions that enhance daylight, ventilation, and spatial performance. Key moves include extending a skylight to 60 feet, integrating operable glass walls, and inserting cross-laminated timber conference rooms within the existing structure.
Through Skylab HQ, the presentation highlights how adaptive reuse can support healthy workplaces, reduce environmental impact, and create spaces that connect design practice with community life.
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