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The Portland Art Museum completed a sweeping transformation of its downtown campus in November 2025, opening a four-story glass connector that unites two historic buildings and adds nearly 100,000 square feet of renovated and new space.

The centerpiece of the project is the Mark Rothko Pavilion, which replaces an underground corridor that had long kept the museum鈥檚 North and South Wings functionally separate. The pavilion now serves as a light-filled Community Commons, improving wayfinding and cre-ating a seamless physical and experiential connection between buildings constructed in 1924 and 1932.

鈥淭he Rothko Pavilion shows what鈥檚 possible when a talented and civic-minded team works toward a shared purpose,鈥� Don Urquhart, Portland Art Museum co-interim director, said in the Top Projects submission form.

General contractor Mortenson used comprehensive laser scanning technology to verify ele-vations and document existing conditions throughout both historic structures, enabling precise integration of new construction. The pavilion鈥檚 glass enclosure incorporates 184 large-scale, fritted glass panels 鈥� some spanning up to 28 feet 鈥� custom fabricated and sourced internationally. The curtain wall system at the west elevation was installed using a specialized pre-loading method engineered at 600 pounds per lineal foot.

The pavilion is seismically isolated from both adjacent buildings through more than 500 linear feet of seismic separation spanning 60 intersections. To protect the collection during structural demolition, crews executed a vibration management protocol in precisely timed five-second intervals.

Construction occurred inside an active museum throughout the project鈥檚 duration. A two-layer protection system 鈥� a dedicated construction wall paired with an additional security wall 鈥� separated work zones from public spaces. A color-coded door system and end-of-shift security checks reinforced those boundaries. All project team members completed First Aid and CPR certifications, and staff participated in QPR mental health training.

The renovation embraced a preservation-focused sustainability approach, upgrading me-chanical systems to meet modern environmental standards while extending the life of the existing historic structures. New air-handling infrastructure supports the strict temperature and humidity requirements essential for art conservation.

Small businesses completed 9 percent of the overall project scope. During construction, cohorts from Portland YouthBuilders and Constructing Hope visited the site, gaining firsthand exposure to the trades.

The museum drew nearly 40,000 visitors in its first two weeks following the Nov. 20, 2025, grand opening. It also raised $28.4 million toward a $30 million endowment campaign supporting ongoing operations and curatorial positions.

Architects on the project were Hennebery Eddy Architects and Vinci Hamp Architects. Structural engineering was provided by KPFF, with mechanical, electrical and plumbing work by Interface Engineering.