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Behind the fences at the Portland Art Museum, crews from Mortenson and a constellation of subcontractors are preparing to install seismic joints, floor-to-ceiling glass and elevators that will serve future patrons of the Portland Art Museum.

Construction workers are racing to get 鈥渄ried in,鈥� with a roof installed against Portland’s seldom-absent rain. For now, workers have installed temporary roof drains to direct rainwater away.

鈥淯ntil you get dried in, until you get the roof on, that’s really the biggest problem,鈥� said Jonathan Cruz, a Mortensen superintendent on the project.

The Rothko Pavilion project is a $141 million effort to knit together the museum’s two historic buildings with a modern glass plaza. It’s been years in the making, with a fundraising push that began in 2016.

A topping-out ceremony was held in July, and museum officials hope to open Rothko Pavilion in late 2025 (the museum remains open to visitors throughout construction). In the interim, museum and construction officials last week granted the 91视频 a behind-the-scenes look at the active construction project in downtown Portland.

The Rothko Pavilion will feature a new seismic system, and slots in the brickwork await the installation of seismic joints that will enable parts of the structure to shift without collapsing during an earthquake.

Ramps will connect the main building, which was designed by Pietro Belluschi and built in 1932, and the Mark building, a newer structure that was completed in 1970 and renovated in 2005. The elevations of the buildings’ floors do not align, so ramps will ease transitions, said Mortenson Market Director Carolyn Sizemore.

The project comes with three new elevators: two for passengers and one for freight, to improve access. Airy staircases with glass guardrails will also link the floors.

Mortenson managers are making sure they get the details right. To that end, Mortenson has built a mock up in the parking lot north of the art museum to test fits and finishes. The stone flooring is imported from China, and the glass system comes from TVITEC in Spain.

鈥淲e’re trying out those fine details, like how does the stone look right up next to the glass, and fine tuning that,鈥� Sizemore said.

Museum officials long ago made the decision to embark on an ambitious and expensive renovation of the existing structures. The brick art-deco Belluschi building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and museum officials said they never seriously considered building a new museum.

鈥淚 don’t think that was ever conceived of,鈥� said Laura Bartroff, the museum’s director of communications.

The museum hired Mortenson as general contractor. Vinci Hamp Architects of Chicago designed the project alongside local partner Hennebery Eddy Architects, which specializes in renovations of historic buildings. KPFF is the structural engineer.

When the project is complete, visitors will be greeted by similar entrances on the east and west sides of the buildings with three floors of a largely glass fa莽ade set back from the streets. Paving stones will welcome passersby. A narrow passageway will link Southwest 10^th Avenue and Park Avenue, allowing the public to walk through the pavilion without entering the museum.

鈥淧eople can walk by and see the galleries from the sidewalk,鈥� said Andrea Stadig, a Mortenson project manager. 鈥淵ou don’t even have to go inside.鈥�

A rooftop patio will allow for events and views of downtown Portland and beyond.

鈥淲e really wanted to create a sense of openness and welcome with the new pavilion,鈥� museum spokesperson Ian Gillingham said.