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GBD Architects has endured many months of design advice and review for two big projects, and the payoff came Thursday when the Portland Design Commission approved both.

Oregon Square

First, the commission OK’d the design for Oregon Square. The massive superblock in the Lloyd District will feature four mixed-use buildings: two 11 stories, one 21 stories and one 30 stories.

The site is bounded by Northeast Seventh and Ninth avenues and Holladay and Oregon streets. The total development will have 50,000 square feet of retail space, 908 below-grade parking spaces and a public plaza surrounded by the four towers.

Kyle Anderson of GBD told the commission that balconies had been added to the northeast block, Block 102. The southwest block, Block 90, has been lifted one foot to provide a taller storefront at ground level, he said.

鈥淲e also calmed down the patterning to add to the curtain wall on the east fa莽ade,鈥� he said.

For the southeast block, Block 103, GBD put more glass into the podium skin and agreed with city staff that it is preferable for the tower to hit the ground.

Anderson mentioned other changes to the plans, including materials and width to the plaza bridge, mobile seating in the plaza, public art, fenestration options for Block 90, options for the residential lobby entrance on the southeast corner of Block 103, and color options for the rooftop mechanical screen for the northwest block, Block 91.

Loading bays and the parking garage entrance will be at Southeast Seventh and Ninth avenues and Oregon Street. Those details, supported by the Portland Bureau of Transportation, will receive a separate Central City Parking Review on Nov. 9, city planner Staci Moore said.

After discussion, with Commissioner Tad Savinar abstaining, the design was approved with a few conditions: clarify material for the edges of the walkway over the stormwater feature in the plaza, move the plaza elevator to the east and put the stairwell on the west side, and increase the curtain wall on the west side of Block 90. GBD also agreed to dark gray for the mechanical wall on the roof of Block 91.

Commissioner Jeff Simpson congratulated the GBD team for a job well done and taking the commissioners’ past advice.

鈥淭hank you for really listening,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t’s been a long process.鈥�

Commissioner David Wark also praised the effort by GBD.

鈥淭here is a big difference between what we’ve seen today and the first (design advice request),鈥� he said. 鈥淭his is one of the largest projects we’ve ever reviewed, and you responded so well to our comments 鈥� The architecture of this phase is exponentially better than the first phase.鈥�

Con-way development

The second GBD design, this one approved unanimously, was for a 119,600-square-foot site in the larger Con-way Master Plan area. Currently, two parking lots occupy the property, at 1621 and 1717 N.W. 21st Ave.

The north block, Block 294E, will hold a multilevel mixed-use building ranging from three to 14 stories with a landscaped forecourt. For the south block, Block 295E, a six-story mixed-use building and a three-story residential building are proposed. Parking will be in a two-level underground garage, accessible from Northwest Savier and Thurman streets.

GBD Architects is working with Jones Architecture on the project, and both companies were represented at the design review.

Alan Jones of Jones Architecture told the commissioners he has been in contact with the Regional Arts & Culture Council about helping select an artist for public art for the forecourt, which includes a grove of sequoia trees.

After a lengthy discussion about details, the commission’s conditions included involving RACC in the selection process for an artist to provide public art, reducing the size of the planter in front of the glass-in elevator in the plaza, bringing the glass closer to ground level and expanding the bike room.

Following the vote, Savinar praised the project and said it brought out designs he didn’t see in the original Con-way Master Plan.

鈥淵ou have found a vocal grace, consistency and attention to craft,鈥� he said.

Market Hill

In addition, commissioners heard a design review presentation for Market Hill at Southwest 20th Avenue by developer Sean O’Neill of Scotia Western States Housing, based in Tucson, Arizona. The project is a new five-story, 16-unit residential building with one level of partially below-grade parking for 20 vehicles on a vacant, 16,000-square-foot, steeply sloped lot. Vehicle and pedestrian access will be off of Southwest 20th Avenue and exterior materials will include face brick, metal panel, profiled metal panel and anodized aluminum windows and doors.

According to city planner Grace Jeffreys, the project will receive another review on Dec. 17.

Broadway Tower

Also, the commission responded to a request for design advice for Broadway Tower in downtown, at 701 S.W. Columbia St. GBD Architects’ early design calls for a new 19-story building to hold a hotel and office space as well as ground-floor retail space and four levels of below-grade parking. Primary exterior materials would include glazed curtain wall systems and metal panels.

City planner Hillary Adam said the Broadway Tower team will receive additional design advice from the commission on Jan. 7, 2016.