How do comparable spaces contribute to the identity of the city?

In conceiving of a new performance venue along Portland's waterfront, it is essential to place it in its proper context. This extends beyond the physical boundaries of the site to encompass other local, regional and national amphitheaters, parks and civic spaces. The scale, geometry, and use of these comparable spaces varies widely, but each has a lesson for this undertaking. Some are more versatile and successful than others, though it is difficult to apply a strict formula for success. In all cases, the experience of the visitor should be of paramount importance. The very best examples achieve a deep resonance with the landscape and with the communities they serve. Moreover, they continue to be beautiful, memorable, contributing spaces long after the stage is dark. This is clearly the aspiration for the Waterfront Pavilion. The best urban examples, such as Millennium Park in Chicago or the recent Bicentennial Amphitheater in Columbus, reveal that the experience and vitality of the space is a matter of location, exceptional design, and the creation of a critical mass of amenities and attractions that appeal to a wide variety of interests. Portland has no shortage of places to gather in the open air. From political rallies in Pioneer Square to picnics on the green terraces of Washington Park, each contribute to the identity of the city in their own way. However, no other site possesses the location, visibility, size and potential necessary to host a major performance series or event, or to serve as a genuine gateway to the city, whether by land, sea, or air.

Venue Comparison

What will the Waterfront Pavilion become and what will it mean to the city?

Beyond the data and statistics related to performance venues, there are profound issues to consider: the interconnection of cities and water, the need and the desire for ceremony and gathering, the need for a space for art to be seen, heard and experienced. The success of great urban spaces is the result of many factors. The density and use of surrounding areas, the physical location of the space along critical pathways, its difference and distinction from the urban fabric, its ability to accommodate both organized and incidental use, its ability to offer a pleasurable experience in all seasons and hours of the day. While our research has led us to examine these conditions, we have also turned to other sources for inspiration. We've looked to the modern industrial and social landscapes of the riverfront, from water steps along the Ganges to the barges that are the engines of river borne commerce. On a fundamental level, we've looked to the forces of nature and technology, the way water shapes the land, the way sound waves travel and waves propagate across the water's surface, the way elements and systems work together to support life and activity.