SW 1st and Ankeny
The Packer Scott Building stands next to the Skidmore Fountain and has been part of the city’s waterfront for more than 130 years. It was built around 1890–1892 as a warehouse and at one time housed a fruit processing facility. Later it was occupied by the Packer-Scott Company, which sold paper, twine, and janitorial supplies to businesses around the region.
By the early 2000s the building was worn out and needed major repairs, but it was also recognized as an important historic landmark. Mercy Corps, an international relief and development organization, chose the Packer Scott Building as the site for its new world headquarters. Instead of tearing it down, architects planned a project that would save the old structure and add new space next to it. In 2009 the building was seismically upgraded, restored to its original form, and connected to a new four‑story addition that seamlessly integrated the old building with the new, modern offices.
The building now represents both Portland’s past and its future. Its preserved brick walls and historic details remind visitors of the city’s early warehouse district, while the modern addition and sustainable design show how an old building can be adapted for new uses in a changing downtown.Mercy Corps vacated the building in 2025.
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Discussion Questions:
Can you tell where the new building joins the old building?
Do you see any similarities in the designs of the old and new buildings?
Vocabulary: seismic upgrade,
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State Education Standards:
Social Studies 3.11. Describe how individuals, groups, events, and developments have shaped the communities and regions. Historical Knowledge
Social Studies 3.12. Compare and contrast the history of the local community to other communities in the region. Historical Knowledge
Social Studies 3.13. Apply research skills and technologies to gather information about the past in a region. Historical Thinking