September 2020 Monthly Meeting

When
-
Meeting Title
Postmodern Predicament: A Case Study of the Portland Building Facade Replacement
Location

Live Zoom Webinar. Pre-registration is required at the link below.

Presenters
Erica Ceder, DLR Group
Ian Eikanas, KPFF
Description

The Portland Building is an internationally recognized work of Postmodern architecture by master architect Michael Graves. For decades, the building suffered from multiple performance issues leading the City of Portland to initiate a project in 2016 that would comprehensively address existing building performance issues and modernize the building. The project included the addition of a new skin over the existing exterior, creating a weather-tight enclosure with improved thermal comfort and increased daylighting. This case study will explore the challenges related to applying a new envelope system over an existing façade from both historic preservation and structural perspectives.

Erica Ceder specializes in the restoration and rehabilitation of historic properties and has served as Project Architect for a variety of projects listed on the National Register of Historic Places for both public and private clients. Her depth of knowledge in the physical properties of historic building materials is a significant asset, as is her experience in performing condition assessments and making treatment recommendations. Erica brings additional value as an expert in navigating the complex historic approval process.

For more than a decade, Ian Eikanas has worked on a wide variety of projects, from seismic upgrades of historic structures to complex and eye-catching new athletic facilities. Ian genuinely enjoys the collaborative process between the architect and engineer, blending creativity with finite logistics. Recently, Ian managed the structural engineering of the unitized curtain wall design on the 73 story Wilshire Grand Center Tower located in Los Angeles, California. Ian earned both his BS and MS degrees in civil engineering from Washington State University and became a LEED accredited professional in order to bring a deeper understanding of sustainability to the job.