Fariborz Maseeh Hall At Portland State University

Fariborz Maseeh Hall At Portland State University

FARIBORZ MASEEH HALL AT PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY

Hacker

ARCHITECTS
Hacker

ARCHITECTURE AND INTERIORS
Hacker

LANDSCAPE
Mayer / Reed

STATUS
Built

CONTRACTOR
Fortis

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEER
Gri

ELECTRICAL ENGINEER
Reyes Engineering

CIVIL ENGINEER
Kpff

MECHANICAL & PLUMBING ENGINEER
Pae

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Abht

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Abht

FAÇADE BUILDING ENVELOPE
Rdh Building Science

LIGHTING
Biella Lighting Design

ACOUSTICAL ENGINEER
Stantec

SUSTAINABILITY
Lensa Consulting

HISTORIC/ SHPO
Architectural Resources Group

YEAR
2020

LOCATION
Portland, Or, United States

TYPE
Educational › University

The task, transform the outdated fortress-like 1960s Neuberger Hall (currently named Fariborz Maseeh Hall) into a modern, interactive, light-filled academic hub.

Fariborz Maseeh Hall At Portland State University
Fariborz Maseeh Hall At Portland State University

The five-story building was originally built in the Brutalist-style, a common campus aesthetic which reflected the pragmatic and inwardly focused buildings of that era.

A half-century later, these buildings represent the antithesis of the open, flexible environments called for today.Evolving this building to meet the current needs focused on three key strategies.

Fariborz Maseeh Hall At Portland State University
Fariborz Maseeh Hall At Portland State University

1) re-centering the design to the user—the students, faculty, community members, and others who use the building;

2) prioritizing life-cycle and life safety upgrades to the building as a whole; and

Fariborz Maseeh Hall At Portland State University
Fariborz Maseeh Hall At Portland State University

3) engaging with owners, contractors, consultants and subcontractors in collaborative, fine-grained decision-making that preserved as many opportunities as possible to support all Portland State University students.

The design concept repositions the building—which functions as a central student hub with classrooms, lecture halls, student services, and faculty offices—through a series of interventions, renovations, and expansions.

The result is an engaging, open, and humane experience.

Fariborz Maseeh Hall At Portland State University
Fariborz Maseeh Hall At Portland State University
Fariborz Maseeh Hall At Portland State University

With an emphasis on access to daylight and connections between indoor and outdoor spaces, the 250,000-square-foot building now enhances campus function, while better connecting and responding to its urban setting.

The original building was completed in two phases, 1961 and 1969. The two elements are now joined by a common floor plan, while their distinct exterior appearances are preserved.

Through a rigorous programming exercise, the removal of 20,000-square-feet of floor area for the light well reduced only 3,000-square-feet of assignable space, while improving program efficiency and flexibility with the additional floor area at the interior with access to daylight.

Fariborz Maseeh Hall At Portland State University
Fariborz Maseeh Hall At Portland State University

Exterior facades were upgraded through new curtainwall systems. That increase visibility while enhancing energy performance.

A new central light well brings daylight into the heart of the building, and a more transparent facade provides visual connectivity to the outdoors.

Fariborz Maseeh Hall At Portland State University
Fariborz Maseeh Hall At Portland State University

The new floor plan now provides students, faculty, and staff with enhanced opportunities for cross-pollination.

Improved ground floor program distribution also now provides visual and physical connections between the plaza and park amenity spaces and expands opportunities for more student activity and interaction outside of the classroom.

Fariborz Maseeh Hall At Portland State University
Fariborz Maseeh Hall At Portland State University

The physical connections are improved through a continuous accessible floor plan with full ADA access and enhanced way finding.

By renovating Fariborz Maseeh Hall rather than demolishing and rebuilding, the team was able to preserve the embodied carbon of the building and substantially reduce carbon emissions.

Fariborz Maseeh Hall At Portland State University
Fariborz Maseeh Hall At Portland State University

Together, the combination of replacing all windows with high performing substitutes and the increased daylight into the building, reduces the building’s energy demand by 25% from the CBEC baseline model of buildings of similar size and use.


Previously closed-in hallways and circulations now have unobstructed line of sight between the building’s eastern and western permeter.

Fariborz Maseeh Hall At Portland State University


Fariborz Maseeh Hall At Portland State University
Fariborz Maseeh Hall At Portland State University
Fariborz Maseeh Hall At Portland State University
Fariborz Maseeh Hall At Portland State University
Fariborz Maseeh Hall At Portland State University
Fariborz Maseeh Hall At Portland State University
Fariborz Maseeh Hall At Portland State University
Fariborz Maseeh Hall At Portland State University