Centennial Mills

Located on the west bank of the Willamette River, Centennial Mills consists of 12 industrial flour mill structures built between 1910 and 1940. The derelict waterfront mill site provides the one of the last urban sites in Portland for its residents to re-connect to the Willamette River. This important and historic riverfront site demanded a creative, unifying vision that recreated Centennials Mills as a compelling part of Portland and its future while preserving a unique piece of the city's history. GreenWorks assisted Harsch Investments and PDC in creating a schematic design vision for this complex brownfield site. In partnership with Olin Studio, the project creates a new civic space on the Willamette River with public open spaces and programming. Ecologically-based technologies were interwoven with unique historic structures inviting residents and visitors to see regenerative systems at work amongst industrial artifacts. The public realm of this private venture with the Portland Development Commission took several forms: a bridge from the Pearl District crossing Naito Parkway, an expanded wharf with carefully edited mill structures, an extended greenway along the river through multiple levels of the wharf, and a daylighted outfall of Tanner Creek at a restored cove that signals the public/private commitment to the health of the river.

Centennial Mills in 2015