Portland’s World Trade Center Plaza

Recently, SERA Architects from Portland, Oregon, specified Tournesol’s product for an outdoor landscape project at Portland’s World Trade Center Plaza. The World Trade Center is a three-building office complex, and the main building, One World Trade Center, is a 17-story office tower, the fifth-largest office tower in Portland. Completed in 1977, this building is 230 feet tall and equipped with a heliport.

The goal for this project was to reopen the tower (after closure due to the COVID-19 shutdown) with a unique and beautifully designed outdoor plaza for employees, with an attractive space to gather during breaks and lunches. Another consideration of the plan was the surrounding community and use of the space, as it's a very public area in downtown Portland.

Landscape architects from SERA chose various Tournesol planters and benches in our lightweight glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC) material and smooth Acid Etch texture. The products were installed by the building manager of the World Trade Center Portland.

Fourteen of our Twig Benches were specified in the standard and reverse models, 96-1/2" x 89-3/8" in length, with a seat size of 18" wide by 18" high. SERA also selected over twenty-five Wilshire Collection rectangular and round planters in various sizes in our GFRC color Shadow (gray). The rectangular planters were 72"L x 18"W x 18"H, and the rounds ranged in sizes from 36” to 72” in diameter and 30” to 42” high. The planters also contained matching sizes of CWM Modular Container Irrigation Systems. The CWM system has a proprietary sensor that monitors the moisture level of the soil and gives only the amount of water needed.

This project was wonderfully completed and the outdoor space is beneficial for the employees' well-being. It offers a pleasant gathering place for employees to rest or build community, with benches and beautifully landscaped flowers and greenery.  

Have an upcoming plaza or amenity deck project? Reach out to one of Our Advisors, and we can share more information about how we partner for success!

Photos by ©josh partee