The Portland Art Museum (PAM), in collaboration with leading developer and builder, Mortenson, hosted a “topping out” ceremony yesterday to celebrate the completion of the steel structure for the Museum’s new Mark Rothko Pavilion. Opening Fall 2025, the Pavilion is the centerpiece of PAM’s major $111 million campus transformation that will renovate or add nearly 100,000 square feet to the Museum and add new visitor amenities that address the needs of more diverse audiences.
During the ceremony, the top roof beam was placed for the nearly 22,000 square-foot pavilion, which will provide a new transparent, welcoming “front door” to the Museum. Guests were invited to commemorate the event and had the opportunity to sign the beam. Representatives from PAM and Mortenson shared comments about what this project means for the community along with construction highlights.
Designed for increased visitor accessibility, the glass Pavilion will connect the Museum’s two historic buildings—the landmark 1932 Main Building and the Mark Building, a former Masonic temple renovated by PAM in 2005—creating streamlined circulation across all four floors of gallery space. The pavilion is named in honor of renowned abstract artist Mark Rothko (1903-1970) who spent his childhood in Portland.
“Yesterday’s topping-off ceremony was an inspiring moment for the PAM and the larger Portland community, marking an important step in realizing the vision of our transformed campus,” said Brian Ferriso, Director and Chief Curator of the Portland Art Museum. “The Museum is the anchor of our downtown cultural district, and we look forward to being able to better serve our audiences across the city and state, and to welcoming national and global visitors to experience the work of artists from across the region and around the world.”
Spearheaded by Chicago-based architecture firm Vinci Hamp in collaboration with Portland’s Hennebery Eddy Architects, the PAM campus transformation project is among the most significant capital projects in the city and a catalyzing force in revitalizing Portland’s downtown core. According to a 2023 study released by Americans for the Arts, Oregon’s nonprofit and for-profit arts and culture sector accounted for 3.4% of the state economy and its nonprofit arts industry alone generated $829 million in economic activity annually. Upon completion in late 2025, visitors will encounter an entirely reimagined museum experience with reinstalled galleries and more intuitive pathways to encounter PAM’s collection. The renovation and expansion will feature a complete reinstallation of the Museum’s encyclopedic collection, which includes Northwest art, Native American art, Asian art, American and European art, modern and contemporary art, prints and drawing, photography, and new media and film. The transformed campus will also provide areas for visitors to rest, reflect, and gather with new outdoor terraces and public plazas, as well as an expanded café and store.
“For more than 130 years, PAM has served as an essential cultural resource and beacon of creativity in this region. We are deeply grateful to our supporters across Portland and beyond as we embark upon this monumental transformation,” said Alix Meier Goodman, Chair of the Portland Art Museum Board of Trustees. “Thanks to the enormous generosity in our community, we can ensure this museum will remain a source of joy, learning, and inspiration for generations to come.”
“This project is incredibly special on so many levels, not the least of which is the opportunity to expand such a culturally important destination for Portland,” said Mike Clifford, Vice President, General Manager of Mortenson. “The intricacies of surgical-like demolition and the merging of modern new construction with the historic buildings required meticulous planning and precise skills. We could not have accomplished this great progress so far without the museum’s leadership and a team of highly experienced construction professionals.”
The museum and Mortenson recognize and thank all of the partners that are part of this landmark project, including Urban Resources Inc., Hennebery Eddy Architects, Vinci Hamp Architects, and the many sub-consultants, trade partners and craftworkers that have contributed. To date, Mortenson on-site craftworkers have worked over 237,000 hours without an injury.
Source: Portland Art Museum