On Friday, Commissioner Leonard and staff visited the soon-to-open Portland Archives and Records Center, or PARC.
In 2007, Commissioner Leonard worked with the leadership at Portland State University to develop plans and funding for the City's Archives to be included as part of the University's new rec center and administration offices. The City's Archives had been located on Columbia Boulevard in a very old building (an old incinerator) that was in an inconvenient location and that the Archives had outgrown.
Randy's passion for history drove him to recognize the opportunity to partner with Portland State and to fight for the funding to make the joint project a reality. He is very proud to see it coming to life.
Beginning in May, PARC will be located at 1800 SW 6th Ave, Suite 550. The LEED Gold certified building is complete and the shelves in the lower level are being mounted to house the city's most precious historic papers and photographs.
The fifth floor public research center is beautiful and inspires you to want to learn more about Portland. You can see Mt. Hood in one direction, PSU's bustling plaza with street cars and the MAX passing below, and a gorgeous example of Portland's green efforts: an eco- roof, where people can enjoy fresh air and the views in a photosynthesizing, long-lasting environment that keeps runoff out of the stormwater system.
Researching the City's history just got a whole lot sexier!
Shelves in the climate-controlled basement level, ready for archives to be delivered and organized. This is where the professionals will access the records that the public requests on the 5th floor.
Posted by Anna DiBenedetto
