Government and Military
Pioneer Courthouse
Portland, OR
Client: General Services Administration
Architect: SERA Architects
Size: 57,000 SF
Completion: 2005
Built in 1875, the Pioneer Courthouse is located in the heart of downtown Portland and has been a focal point of the city since its construction. JE Dunn was contracted to update the building while maintaining historical accuracy and make it seismically sound.
The issue of seismic stability involved its own unique set of challenges. JE Dunn installed a friction pendulum base isolation system. At the time of construction, it was the first in Oregon and one of only fifty in the country.
The courthouse is now able to withstand a subduction earthquake up to 8.5 magnitude and the interior has been carefully refurbished to replicate its original characteristics.