Washington High School

Washington High School exemplifies the power of historic preservation to transform a vacant and deteriorating building into a vibrant commercial hub for creativity.  The $20M project provided sought-after office space and a performing arts venue in one of Portland’s great architectural treasures. An employee of Venerable Group at the time, Jessica played a central role bringing the vision for a revitalized Washington High School to fruition. Over three years, she worked on this project in the roles of owner’s rep and historic preservation specialist helping to oversee this award-winning project. 

When the renovated building opened in 2015, demand for the one-of-a-kind space far exceeded expectations and the old school was rapidly leased.  The classrooms were converted to retail and office space to accommodate small and large commercial tenants.  Acoustically isolated from the offices, the center auditorium—called Revolution Hall—became a coveted mid-size concert and performance venue.  Finally, a 2,400 sf rooftop deck was added to the building to capture the stunning views of downtown Portland and to generate revenue.

Much of the character and feeling of being in a school was retained through careful consideration of the original features. Details such as lockers, IBM clocks, slate chalkboards, pencil sharpeners, and teacher’s cabinets can be found in the offices, while memorabilia from the school’s rich history is displayed in the third-floor trophy case.