The Washington High School (WHS) building, located at 531 SE 14th Avenue, is the official home of The Works—an integral part of Pica's 2009 Time-Based Art Festival (TBA:09)—and the proposed site of the inner eastside's new community center.
Last night, I stopped by WHS for a peek at Pica's transformation of the space, but also to tour the building and contemplate the three proposed designs for the community center that were recently revealed at a community open house.
The school closed in 1981, but the building was used as a child services center until 2002 when Portland Public Schools designated it a surplus property. It's a fantastic building that remains in good condition. Ceiling tiles have fallen in some of the classrooms and there are water stains from leaks, but these are minor issues.
Performances at The Works will take place in the theater located on the second floor. It would be wonderful if the future community center could somehow make use of the theater, because it is a great space.
However, the design concepts for the community center only make use of the ground floor or call for the entire interior to be gutted. [There is another design option that only uses the grounds, not the WHS building.] At present, none of the proposals make use of the theater.
PICA has turned the school—at least the parts they have access to—into a terrific late night gathering place. There are visual art exhibits on the second and third floors, a bar and lounge on the third floor, and an outdoor beer garden. So check out The Works. Hangout. Catch some shows. Take a look at WHS.
School is now in session!
Washington High School
An anonymous random act of art at the entrance
Rubber band sculpture by SERA Architects
Displays created from items found in the school can be found at The Works.
Arrangements by Teryl Saxon-Hill 9with some help from daughter Blair)
The Washington High School theater
The third floor
The Sugar Shack Lounge by Teryl Saxon-Hill
Co-ed facilities
Movements by Ethan Rose
Forever Now And Then Again by Jesse Hayward
The forbidden fourth floor
View the slide show for more images of WHS or visit our Flickr gallery.
Love this.
Gives me goosebumps.
I almost wish someone would just adopt the school + rehab it closer to as-is vs. possibly transforming into a community center.
Hello, McMenamin's?
Can't wait to visit The Works tonight!
Thanks .sd.! I'd love to see the school preserved too. Maybe you'll get your wish if the community chooses the third option of developing the community center on WHS grounds, but leaving the school alone. That would open the door for McMenamin's. :-)