Central Lofts

Portland, OR


Central Lofts was among the pioneers of mass timber multi-family developments in the City of Portland. Located at the base of the iconic St. Johns Bridge, the four-story, 30-unit building takes full advantage of its charismatic neighborhood and prominent location next to a plaza, which sits at the center of the area’s commercial corridor. Because designers wanted to minimize the use of steel and concrete yet provide a flexible ground-story layout, the CLT and glulam structure is combined with exterior wood shear walls. This wood exoskeleton is paired with a central scissor stair made of two interlocking CLT stair systems, which provide shear stability and optimize the building’s footprint by minimizing circulation area. With floor-to-ceiling glazing that provides views into neighboring Forest Park, the bright, airy apartment units are awash with natural light, highlighting the exposed wood beams and ceilings while promoting resident well-being.   


Watch a short one-minute video of this project, which was selected as a 2023 Wood Design Awards winner. View the full award gallery here.

Version History
  • Project uploaded by WoodWorks Innovation Network (WIN) on 02-28-2023
  • Project last updated by WoodWorks Innovation Network (WIN) on 08-20-2024
Project Details
  • Year Built

    2022

  • Number Of Stories

    4

  • Bldg system

    Mass Timber

  • Sq. Meters

    2,554

  • Construction Type:

    V-A

  • Building Type:

    Multi-Family (Apartments, Condos)

  • Material Types:

    Mass Timber
    Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT)
    Glue-Laminated Timber (GLT or glulam)

Project Team
  • USG
    USG Gypsum underlayment and sound mat
  • Black Rock Development and Real Estate, LLC Developer / Owner
  • Froelich Engineers Structural Engineer
  • Jones Architecture Architect
  • R&H Construction General Contractor
Version History
  • Project uploaded by WoodWorks Innovation Network (WIN) on 02-28-2023
  • Project last updated by WoodWorks Innovation Network (WIN) on 08-20-2024
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