Myhre Group designs student housing project
POSTED: Tuesday, February 22, 2011 at 03:16 PM PT
BY: Kelli Rogers
Daily Journal of Commerce
A mixed-use, student housing project is expected to aid revitalization in downtown Hillsboro.
The building, Above Second, was designed by Myhre Group Architects and developed through a public-private partnership with the city of Hillsboro. Construction will take place along the MAX light-rail line at the corner of southwest Second Avenue and Washington Street.
The structure will be one of the tallest buildings in downtown Hillsboro, at six stories, and hold 65,000 square feet of space - including a 4,200-square-foot ground floor dedicated to commercial use and live-work use. The upper floors will hold 80 dwelling units with a variety of studio, one- and two-bedroom living spaces.
“We wanted to serve the needs of Pacific University and Portland Community College, so the design is specifically going to be geared towards students,” said Jeff Myhre, firm principal and lead architect for the project. But that doesn’t mean that only students will be allowed to live in the new housing complex, he said.
The site also will feature approximately 38 parking spaces for motor vehicles and 30 for bicycles.
Myhre Group’s aim for Above Second was for “interesting urban streetscapes and spaces,” Myhre said. The design includes a landscaped rain garden and a mid-block courtyard, which could potentially be used for public markets.
“The goal is to contribute to the downtown redevelopment of Hillsboro and to inspire other development in the downtown core,” Myhre said. “It’s a vibrant center; it just needs more housing.”
Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2012. The general contractor is Seabold Construction Co.
The Myhre Group team includes Myhre, principal Don Sowieja and architectural designer Erik Winter. The developer is Above Second Development Group LLC. No other project partners have been selected yet.
http://djcoregon.com/news/2011/02/22...using-project/