Edith Green - Wendell Wyatt Federal Building
Encyclopedia
The Edith Green – Wendell Wyatt Federal Building is a high rise
structure in downtown Portland, Oregon
, United States. Opened in 1975, the 18 story-tower is owned by the Federal Government. The international style
office building has more than 370000 ft2 of space. Designed by the Skidmore, Owings and Merrill
architecture firm, the building is named after Wendell Wyatt
and Edith Green
who both served in the United States House of Representatives
.
fire in the lobby caused $300,000 in damages, mostly from the sprinkler system that kept the night-time fire contained to the lobby area. Firefighters returned in February of the next year when a person trapped in an elevator inadvertently set off the fire alarm. Also that year, the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service
moved out of the building and into Oregon’s World Trade Center.
The building suffered another fire in February 1993 when a discarded cigarette caused $25,000 in damage to insulation in the basement. All the occupants were evacuated during the late morning fire that had three alarms called, but was easily extinguished with a single bucket of water. At that time the building was valued at $120 million.
In April 1995, the building was evacuated due to a bomb threat that suggested what happened at the Oklahoma City federal building
would occur in Portland. No bomb was found, but the government later added additional security measures to the building that housed 1,200 workers in response to the bombing in Oklahoma City. Loriann J. Debray was later sentenced to three months in jail by federal judge Helen J. Frye
for the incident. The new protective measures at the building included adding metal detectors and security guards, elimination of visitor parking in the building’s basement, and other vehicles entering the building must show government identification.
The building was targeted for another bomb threat in October 1995, but no bomb was found. On the one year anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing
, a piece from the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building
was added to a memorial across the street at Terry Schrunk Plaza
, which includes an underground parking structure for the Green-Wyatt Building. That structure was the planned assassination site of Charles H. Turner
in the failed plot by members of the Rajneeshees
in 1985 to kill Turner, the U.S. Attorney for Oregon who worked in the building.
In May 2001, the building was closed for a day after power transformers blew out and knocked out electricity. A similar incident closed the building in February 2004. Green – Wyatt was closed again on September 11, 2001, in the wake of the attack on the World Trade Center in New York and the attack on the Pentagon
.
The building is scheduled to go through a $133 million overhaul to improve efficiency and make the building more environmentally friendly. SERA Architects will design the improvements, which includes a new exterior to the structure. Funding for the project comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
, and is estimated to take about three years. Seattle based Howard S. Wright Companies
was selected as the construction manager for the renovations and noted that the renovation project is being designed to achieve a LEED Platinum rating.
in February 1988, veterans protesting the lack of funding for medical services provided by the Veterans Administration
in January 1989, to those marching for a ban on testing nuclear weapons in August 1989. Other groups have rallied to end homelessness, as well as the Gulf War
against Iraq
in 1991 when nine protesters were arrested at the building. The bombing of Iraq in December 1998 led to further demonstrations, as did the invasion of Iraq in 2003 when seven protesters were arrested in March.
. It was designed by the architecture firm of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill
. Tenants of the building include the Internal Revenue Service, the Veterans Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and United States Senator Ron Wyden
’s office among others. Operated by the General Services Administration (GSA), the building also houses a G.S.A. Café. Parts of the building are also used to exhibit art works. Past exhibits have included those by Black artists during Black History Month
and works by disabled artists.
(1910-1987) and Wendell Wyatt
(1917-2009), who both left Congress in 1975.
Wyatt was a native Oregonian who studied law at the University of Oregon before joining the FBI and Marine Corps. A veteran of World War II
, he served as Congressman from Oregon's 1st congressional district
for ten years as a Republican. Green grew up in Oregon and became a teacher after studying at Willamette University
, the University of Oregon, and Stanford University. A Democrat, she spent nearly 20 years representing Oregon's 3rd congressional district
.
High Rise
High Rise is a 1975 novel by J. G. Ballard. It takes place in an ultra-modern, luxury high-rise building.-Plot summary:The building seems to give its well-established tenants all the conveniences and commodities that modern life has to offer: swimming pools, its own school, a supermarket,...
structure in downtown Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, United States. Opened in 1975, the 18 story-tower is owned by the Federal Government. The international style
International style (architecture)
The International style is a major architectural style that emerged in the 1920s and 1930s, the formative decades of Modern architecture. The term originated from the name of a book by Henry-Russell Hitchcock and Philip Johnson, The International Style...
office building has more than 370000 ft2 of space. Designed by the Skidmore, Owings and Merrill
Skidmore, Owings and Merrill
Skidmore, Owings and Merrill LLP is an American architectural and engineering firm that was formed in Chicago in 1936 by Louis Skidmore and Nathaniel Owings; in 1939 they were joined by John O. Merrill. They opened their first branch in New York City, New York in 1937. SOM is one of the largest...
architecture firm, the building is named after Wendell Wyatt
Wendell Wyatt
Wendell Wyatt was a Republican United States Representative from Oregon's 1st congressional district who served in the United States House of Representatives from 1964 until 1975.- Life before Congress :...
and Edith Green
Edith Green
Edith Louise Starrett Green was an American politician and educator in the state of Oregon. A native of South Dakota, she was raised in Oregon and completed her education at the University of Oregon and Stanford University...
who both served in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
.
History
The Green – Wyatt building was constructed in the 1970s and opened in 1975. On June 21, 1989, an arsonArson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
fire in the lobby caused $300,000 in damages, mostly from the sprinkler system that kept the night-time fire contained to the lobby area. Firefighters returned in February of the next year when a person trapped in an elevator inadvertently set off the fire alarm. Also that year, the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service
United States Commercial Service
The United States Commercial Service is the trade promotion arm of the U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration, which helps U.S. companies succeed in markets around the world. Led by Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Director General Suresh Kumar and located across the...
moved out of the building and into Oregon’s World Trade Center.
The building suffered another fire in February 1993 when a discarded cigarette caused $25,000 in damage to insulation in the basement. All the occupants were evacuated during the late morning fire that had three alarms called, but was easily extinguished with a single bucket of water. At that time the building was valued at $120 million.
In April 1995, the building was evacuated due to a bomb threat that suggested what happened at the Oklahoma City federal building
Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building
The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building was a United States Federal Government complex located at 200 N.W. 5th Street in downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States. The building was the target of the Oklahoma City bombing on April 19, 1995, which killed 168 people, including 19 children...
would occur in Portland. No bomb was found, but the government later added additional security measures to the building that housed 1,200 workers in response to the bombing in Oklahoma City. Loriann J. Debray was later sentenced to three months in jail by federal judge Helen J. Frye
Helen J. Frye
Helen Jackson Frye was an American judge and attorney in the state of Oregon. Born in Southern Oregon, she served as an active federal district court judge in Portland, Oregon, for 15 years and as a judge for the Oregon Circuit Court for nine years...
for the incident. The new protective measures at the building included adding metal detectors and security guards, elimination of visitor parking in the building’s basement, and other vehicles entering the building must show government identification.
The building was targeted for another bomb threat in October 1995, but no bomb was found. On the one year anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing
Oklahoma City bombing
The Oklahoma City bombing was a terrorist bomb attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. It was the most destructive act of terrorism on American soil until the September 11, 2001 attacks. The Oklahoma blast claimed 168 lives, including 19...
, a piece from the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building
Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building
The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building was a United States Federal Government complex located at 200 N.W. 5th Street in downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States. The building was the target of the Oklahoma City bombing on April 19, 1995, which killed 168 people, including 19 children...
was added to a memorial across the street at Terry Schrunk Plaza
Terry Schrunk Plaza
Terry Schrunk Plaza is a park located in downtown Portland, Oregon. Located across from City Hall, the park is named after former Portland mayor Terry Schrunk and neighbors the Plaza Blocks consisting of Chapman Square and Lownsdale Square....
, which includes an underground parking structure for the Green-Wyatt Building. That structure was the planned assassination site of Charles H. Turner
Charles H. Turner (attorney)
Charles H. Turner is a former United States Attorney for the District of Oregon. Prior to his presidential appointment as U.S. Attorney, Turner worked under his predecessor, Sidney I. Lezak, for 14 years. He was appointed as Lezak's replacement by President Ronald Reagan.As U.S...
in the failed plot by members of the Rajneeshees
1985 Rajneeshee assassination plot
The 1985 Rajneeshee assassination plot was a conspiracy by a group of high-ranking followers of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh to assassinate Charles Turner, the then-United States Attorney for the District of Oregon...
in 1985 to kill Turner, the U.S. Attorney for Oregon who worked in the building.
In May 2001, the building was closed for a day after power transformers blew out and knocked out electricity. A similar incident closed the building in February 2004. Green – Wyatt was closed again on September 11, 2001, in the wake of the attack on the World Trade Center in New York and the attack on the Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
.
The building is scheduled to go through a $133 million overhaul to improve efficiency and make the building more environmentally friendly. SERA Architects will design the improvements, which includes a new exterior to the structure. Funding for the project comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, abbreviated ARRA and commonly referred to as the Stimulus or The Recovery Act, is an economic stimulus package enacted by the 111th United States Congress in February 2009 and signed into law on February 17, 2009, by President Barack Obama.To...
, and is estimated to take about three years. Seattle based Howard S. Wright Companies
Howard S. Wright Companies
The Howard S. Wright Companies are a group of affiliated companies united through a common heritage.These companies provide preconstruction, construction, CM/GC, and design-build services for a wide range of project types and industries, primarily within the ten Western States...
was selected as the construction manager for the renovations and noted that the renovation project is being designed to achieve a LEED Platinum rating.
Protests
As the main presence of the federal government in Portland, it is often the site of protests against the government. These protests have included marchers against U.S. aid given to IsraelIsrael
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
in February 1988, veterans protesting the lack of funding for medical services provided by the Veterans Administration
United States Department of Veterans Affairs
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs is a government-run military veteran benefit system with Cabinet-level status. It is the United States government’s second largest department, after the United States Department of Defense...
in January 1989, to those marching for a ban on testing nuclear weapons in August 1989. Other groups have rallied to end homelessness, as well as the Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
against Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
in 1991 when nine protesters were arrested at the building. The bombing of Iraq in December 1998 led to further demonstrations, as did the invasion of Iraq in 2003 when seven protesters were arrested in March.
Details
The 18-story building has 372461 ft2 of space and stands 270 feet (82.3 m) tall. Built of concrete and steel, the high-rise is in the international style of architectureInternational style (architecture)
The International style is a major architectural style that emerged in the 1920s and 1930s, the formative decades of Modern architecture. The term originated from the name of a book by Henry-Russell Hitchcock and Philip Johnson, The International Style...
. It was designed by the architecture firm of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill
Skidmore, Owings and Merrill
Skidmore, Owings and Merrill LLP is an American architectural and engineering firm that was formed in Chicago in 1936 by Louis Skidmore and Nathaniel Owings; in 1939 they were joined by John O. Merrill. They opened their first branch in New York City, New York in 1937. SOM is one of the largest...
. Tenants of the building include the Internal Revenue Service, the Veterans Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and United States Senator Ron Wyden
Ron Wyden
Ronald Lee "Ron" Wyden is the senior U.S. Senator for Oregon, serving since 1996, and a member of the Democratic Party. He previously served in the United States House of Representatives from 1981 to 1996....
’s office among others. Operated by the General Services Administration (GSA), the building also houses a G.S.A. Café. Parts of the building are also used to exhibit art works. Past exhibits have included those by Black artists during Black History Month
Black History Month
Black History Month is an observance of the history of the African diaspora in a number of countries outside of Africa. Since 1976, it is observed annually in the United States and Canada in February, while in the United Kingdom it is observed in October...
and works by disabled artists.
Namesakes
The building is named after former members of Congress Edith GreenEdith Green
Edith Louise Starrett Green was an American politician and educator in the state of Oregon. A native of South Dakota, she was raised in Oregon and completed her education at the University of Oregon and Stanford University...
(1910-1987) and Wendell Wyatt
Wendell Wyatt
Wendell Wyatt was a Republican United States Representative from Oregon's 1st congressional district who served in the United States House of Representatives from 1964 until 1975.- Life before Congress :...
(1917-2009), who both left Congress in 1975.
Wyatt was a native Oregonian who studied law at the University of Oregon before joining the FBI and Marine Corps. A veteran of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he served as Congressman from Oregon's 1st congressional district
Oregon's 1st congressional district
Oregon's 1st congressional district consists of the northwest corner of Oregon. It includes Clatsop, Columbia, Washington, and Yamhill counties, and southwest Portland, part of Multnomah County, which belonged to the 3rd district before the 2002 redistricting....
for ten years as a Republican. Green grew up in Oregon and became a teacher after studying at Willamette University
Willamette University
Willamette University is an American private institution of higher learning located in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest university in the Western United States. Willamette is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges, and is made up of an undergraduate College of Liberal Arts and...
, the University of Oregon, and Stanford University. A Democrat, she spent nearly 20 years representing Oregon's 3rd congressional district
Oregon's 3rd congressional district
Oregon's 3rd congressional district covers most of Multnomah County, including Portland east of the Willamette River, Gresham, and Troutdale. It also includes the northern part of Clackamas County, including Milwaukie. Parts of northwest Portland also lie within the district...
.