After years of design and construction, Portland State University’s former Neuberger Hall reopened this week with a new name, Fariborz Maseeh Hall. As students return to campus for the fall term, one of the first things they’ll notice about the remodeled academic and student services building is the new main entry plaza on the South Park Blocks with its unique site amenity we call the Social Jetty. 
The Mayer/Reed designed jetty is a 77 ft. long steel and wood structure that invites people to dock out of the flow for a period of time. It provides places to sit, dine, study, converse, create, relax, people-watch or simply be. We’ll be watching to see how it gets used in the days ahead.
New Prize Named for Pioneering Landscape Architect Cornelia Oberlander
The Cornelia Hahn Oberlander Prize in Landscape Architecture is a newly-established, international prize established by The Cultural Landscapes Foundation. The prize will be awarded every other year to practitioners whose landscapes are deemed to be particularly significant, influential and enduring. The work of these individuals are legacy landscapes that promote the best of our profession through excellence and stewardship, along with an increased awareness for the value of design and of our profession.
The prize is named after the influential Cornelia Oberlander who is a landscape architect practicing in Vancouver BC. She has inspired me since the mid-1970s when I was a graduate student. I was impressed with her ability to achieve such a seamless integration of building and landscape. Since that time, she and her work have strongly influenced me in my own practice here in the Pacific Northwest.
Cornelia has played a significant role in the evolution of our profession; and I’m delighted to see this TCLF program honor her with the naming of the International Landscape Architecture Prize. I’m pleased to participate as part of the 100 Women who have enabled the initial round of funding for this important program.
Meet Our Newest Experiential Graphic Designers
Mayer/Reed welcomes experiential graphic designers, Alper Yurtseven and Rosie Struve.
Alper Yurtseven, SEGD, IDSA joined Mayer/Reed as a senior experiential graphic designer and project manager. He brings more than 16 years of experience in wayfinding, branding, donor recognition and UI design. Alper was previously with Lebowitz Gould Design, in New York, NY. His current work with Mayer/Reed includes the Portland International Airport expansion, Hillsboro Community Center and Grays Harbor College. “Experiential graphic design is a field where the 2D world of graphics and typography meets the 3D world of products and spatial design. With a background in both industrial and graphic design I am drawn to this realm, where these disciplines merge and possibilities expand.” Alper holds a Master of Industrial Design from the Pratt Institute.
Rosie Struve joined Mayer/Reed as an experiential graphic designer. Her current work includes signage, wayfinding and experiential graphics for The Portland Building and several US embassies. Rosie is a Portland State University alumna and adjunct instructor teaching Design Thinking. As a designer and instructor, Rosie embraces the creative process and the evolution of a project as it develops. “Research, process and function are important design drivers,” she notes, “but breaking boundaries and trying the unexpected are equally necessary.”
Grant High School Celebrates Re-Opening
Civic leaders, designers, alumni, students, neighbors and even miniature horses celebrated the re-opening of Grant High School on September 7. A major modernization transformed the historic campus and buildings to the delight of visitors who marveled at the 21st Century learning environments behind the restored 1924 facade.
Thanks to removal of non-historic structures, the campus gained well-connected open spaces, a sports field expansion and seamless integration with the adjacent Grant Park. Grant is the third of Portland Public Schools‘ completed high school modernization projects, following Franklin and Roosevelt High Schools. Next up for construction are Madison, Lincoln and Benson High Schools.
