Location
Portland, Oregon Awards
2002 Honor Award, AIA, NW & Pacific Region1999 Honor Award ASLA, National
1998 AIA Commendation Award
1997 AIA Portland Chapter Honor Award
1997 Waterfront Centers Annual Award for Excellence On The Waterfront
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Water Pollution Control Laboratory
Miller Hull (in association with SERA Architects of Portland) designed
this $9 million Water Pollution Control laboratory for the Bureau
of Environmental Services. The 7.6 acre site, bound by the Willamette
River, includes a park under a beautiful suspension bridge. The 40,000 s.f. design is a combination of 15,000 s.f. of laboratories with 25,000 s.f. of administrative and support spaces. The six labs respond to new state of the art environmental procedures for identifying pollutants. Labs, including general chemistry, microbiology, nutrients, organic analysis, metals, and organic preparation, are clustered under one large sloping roof punctuated by an array of skylights.
Numerous successful efforts maximized environmental benefits and community investments with innovative and low cost solutions. To protect from late afternoon sun, large overhangs and light shelves shade the western office wall that opens up to the view. This window wall is peppered with operable windows controlled by the staff for natural cooling and ventilation. Integration of a storm water treatment zone into the landscape next to the park provides on-site working demonstrations and interpretive displays for public education.