Pioneer Courthouse Square

This urban plaza, affectionately known as “Portland’s living room,” is the center of city life downtown Portland. With a year-round program of civic and cultural events and a variety of daily uses that attracts 9 million visitors per year, the Square is an internationally-recognized success story in the design of managed public spaces. Walker Macy has remained involved in the Square since completing its original design in the 1980s: providing input on modifications, observing its ongoing use as new generations take ownership of it, contributing designs for the annual Festival of Flowers program, and assisting with a major renovation in 2016.

Client
City of Portland, OR
Location
Portland, OR
Completed
1984
Awards
2008 APA, Great Places in America: Public Spaces
1984 Oregon ASLA, Urban Design Merit Award & Citation for Progressing Architecture