ELS began this work by helping the city and its stakeholders narrow down the potential project locations. Following ELS’ extensive series of community workshops and online engagement, we brought the options from six down to three. Ultimately, participants ultimately selected Northgate Park as the site of the new facility. This is an ideal location. It is easily accessible on foot or by car, transit, or bike, and it is close to other community resources. Moreover, by maintaining a single elevation throughout the building, the building eliminates the need for stairs, elevators, or lifts. Visitors will be able to quickly comprehend the complex layers of amenities, programming, and services, amid comfortable, inclusive, universally accessible surroundings.

A key priority for this work has been to minimize the project’s impact on the surrounding neighborhood and environment. The proposed massing for the Northgate site takes its cues from Portland’s modern architectural vernacular and from the basic functions of a community natatorium. The building has two distinct natatorium volumes, one comprising the fun water area and the other the fast water pool; each volume is separated by a glass wall so that they can be operated independently, with specific air environments calibrated to each body of water’s temperature. Basic shed-like forms define each volume, with roof designs that maximize the benefits of PV and PVT arrays hovering atop vegetation at the roof. In siting the building, special care has been taken to avoid disturbing existing heritage trees. The project will include multi-purpose rooms (for parties, community meetings, exhibits, and other functions). An entry plaza will feature an interactive splash pad. The project is targeting LEED Gold.

The addition of this new aquatic center to Northgate Park will clearly be a net positive for this North Portland resource and will facilitate a substantial increase in overall recreational programming.