LIVING ROOM REALTY HQ
PORTLAND, OR
AN INNER-CITY GEM, REVITALIZED
When Living Room Realty chose to move into a long-vacant building, once home to the Department of Community Justice, the decision raised a few eyebrows.
Surrounded by razor wire and stripped of much of its character, the structure was imposing—but not beyond redemption.
Designed in the 1960s by notable Pacific Northwest modernists John W. Reese and Frank E. Blachly, the bones were worth saving.
Believing in its potential, the clients began the process of getting the building listed on the National Historic Registry.
We were brought on to honor the building’s original intent while adapting it for modern use.
Our team led the full renovation effort—from space planning and construction to furnishings, landscape, and lighting—ensuring that every decision preserved the spirit of the building while supporting the mission of Living Room Realty.
“The building’s original purpose was to serve and inspire—first as a credit union, now as a real estate hub. We wanted our design to reflect that legacy. By referencing the original plans and embracing the ethos of the 1960s, we aimed to create something that felt both timeless and timely. A building that feels like it has always been—and yet, exactly what it needed to become.”
— Shannon Baird
