Renovation and expansion of Providence Park in Portland, Oregon

New urban stadium type

published in sb 2/2020

Peregrine Sports LLC, owner of Portland Timbers and Portland Thorns FC, promoted the reno­vation and major expansion to Providence Park, the clubs’ 93-year-old historic home in the city’s Goose Hollow neighborhood. Designed by Allied Works, the privately-funded, 4,000-seat, three-level structure provides dramatic views of the field for individuals and groups while maintaining an open public arcade and street-level concourse along South­west 18th Avenue.

The space once known as Multnomah Field has long been Portland’s premier venue for sporting and civic events. As the city grew, a classically inspired design was proposed in 1925 by architects Morris Whitehouse and A. E. Doyle. Since the 1970’s, the city, and its first professional soccer club, the NASL Timbers, have played a huge role in the advancement of the sport in North America. From the rebirth of the Timbers in the 2000’s, to joining the ranks of Major League Soccer in 2011, to launching the most successful women’s professional sports franchise in the U.S. in 2013, the legacy of Portland soccer continues to grow and cultivate new audiences both at home and abroad.