Just south of downtown Portland, Ore., in South Waterfront, a former industrial district undergoing a modern metamorphosis, The Emery Apartments stands among other new multistory residential buildings, restaurants, businesses, shops, an aerial tram and medical research towers. The seven-story, 118-apartment building is the first midrise to be designed and built as part of the redevelopment of the expansive riverfront property of the Zidell family, once the largest ship dismantler in the country and builder of multimillion dollar barges. Named after Emery Zidell, the chief visionary of the family businesses and son of founder Sam Zidell, the building’s rust-colored metal exterior pays tribute to the area’s-and the family’s-industrial marine history.
Overlooking Zidell Yards, at the hub of the emerging neighborhood, along the streetcar line and and 10 feet from the Ross Island Bridge, the 100,000-square-foot Emery was conceived as eco-friendly, modern housing for young professionals and Oregon Health & Science University‘s students and staff.
With the constant humidity of the waterfront environment, and extensive use of metal on the exteriors, the protective metal finishes and high-build primers had to offer a strong barrier for the metal substrate.
Both The Bryer Co., an Auburn, Wash.-based manufacturer of architectural and commercial metal roofing, wall and soffit systems, and Dura Coat Products Inc., Riverside, Calif., a manufacturer of quality coatings for coil and spray, have extensive experience combating marine and corrosive environments.
“Virtually the entire exterior siding was done in metal using a combination of PVDF painted steel and A606 Weathering Steel,” says Peter Tuininga, of The Bryer Co. The 30-year-old metals company supplied more than 65,000 square feet of 24-gauge Galvalume steel coated with Dura Coat Product’s Durapon 70 paint system in two different custom metallic colors. In addition, more than 10,000 square feet of A606 weathering steel was supplied along with 2,000 square feet of Bryer’s 7.2 Rib panel and 1,000 square feet of Bryer’s TBC-Flush soffit system coated with Durapon Metallic Silver.
The vast majority of the material was custom-fabricated by Architectural Metal Works, Tualatin, Ore. A unique project specific design of varying width standing seam vertical siding was used in conjunction with a custom fin-type structure along with a shop-fabricated horizontal lap siding that accents the windows.
With all building materials quality- and time-tested, the fully occupied Emery, in its thriving modern neighborhood with a scenic view, signals the area’s future as it reflects its hardworking past.
The Emery Apartments, Portland, Ore.
Architect: ZGF Architects LLP, Portland
General contractor: Lease Crutcher Lewis Construction, Portland
Fabricator: Architectural Metal Works, Tualatin, Ore.
Metal roof/wall panels: The Bryer Co., Auburn, Wash.
Exterior coatings: Dura Coat Products Inc., Riverside, Calif.
—
Omar Skiver is a marketing consultant and past president of the National Coil Coating Association (NCCA). For more information on Riverside, Calif.-based Dura Coat Products Inc., visit www.duracoatproducts.com.