Community Center for Immigrants and Refugees

This design proposal supports the mission of the Pacific Northwest Multicultural Community Services located in Portland, OR’s Rose City Park neighborhood. The center serves as a welcoming, inclusive haven for immigrants and refugees, offering housing, social services, education, and community programs in a thoughtfully integrated environment.

Spanning 14,950 SF, the two-story building includes:

- 8,750 SF of commercial space: community room, café, social service offices, classrooms, and computer lab

- 6,200 SF of residential space: four private apartments

- Outdoor amenities: landscaped garden and playground

Design Concept: Eastern Bluebird Nest

Inspired by the symbolism of the bluebird and the comfort of a spring day, the center embodies warmth, refuge, and renewal. Biophilic elements, soft curves, and a tranquil nature-based palette foster emotional ease and cultural connection, transcending geographic and linguistic boundaries. Materials and forms are chosen to reflect the resilience and dignity of those the center serves, creating a nurturing space that uplifts every visitor.