View of Equitable's heating system, four turbo-vacuum compressors, output a total of 540 tons of refrigeration that has the capacity to provide heat and cooling for the entire building. This system may be one of the most startling features of the building; the electrically powered heat pumps function through reverse cycle system (Architect & Engineer, 4/49, p. 8-13).
Commercial facilities--Oregon--Portland; Office buildings--Oregon--Portland; Architecture--Oregon--Portland; Architects; Belluschi, Pietro; Equitable Building (Portland, Or.); Commonwealth Building (Portland, Or.);
The exterior of the Equitable Building is said to be a careful study of restraint and structural expression where "the skeleton outline is predominant and stresses neither the vertical or the horizontal". Exterior and evening view of Portland's Equitable Building, now known as the Commonwealth Building (A Century of Portland Architecture, Vaughan & McMath, 1967, p. 175).
Commercial facilities--Oregon--Portland; Office buildings--Oregon--Portland; Architecture--Oregon--Portland; Architects; Belluschi, Pietro; Equitable Building (Portland, Or.); Commonwealth Building (Portland, Or.);
A well known example of a modern office building is definitely Belluschi's Equitable Building. This building has received many awards, including the American Institute of Architects' Twentyfive Year Award, and was selected one of the best U. S. buildings of the past hundred years. Exterior view of Pietro Belluschi's Equitable Building, now know as the Commonwealth Building, located in Portland, Oregon.
Commercial facilities--Oregon--Portland; Office buildings--Oregon--Portland; Architecture--Oregon--Portland; Architects; Belluschi, Pietro; Equitable Building (Portland, Or.); Commonwealth Building (Portland, Or.);
The rigid window pattern of the Equitable Building allows for more interior flexibility in the office space. The building was originally twelve stories high, an additional floor has since been added. Interior view of office space, possibly a conference room, in Portland's Equitable Building, now known as the Commonwealth Building; downtown Portland view through office window.
Commercial facilities--Oregon--Portland; Office buildings--Oregon--Portland; Architecture--Oregon--Portland; Architects; Belluschi, Pietro; Equitable Building (Portland, Or.); Commonwealth Building (Portland, Or.);
The Equitable Building is said to be Oregon's first International style commercial building. This building gained architect, Pietro Belluschi, worldwide fame. Interior view of office space, in Portland's Equitable Building, now known as the Commonwealth Building; view of two unidentified office workers, downtown Portland view through office window.
Commercial facilities--Oregon--Portland; Office buildings--Oregon--Portland; Architecture--Oregon--Portland; Architects; Belluschi, Pietro; Equitable Building (Portland, Or.); Commonwealth Building (Portland, Or.);
The Equitable Building was built in 1948 in Portland's downtown business district. This building was designed by architect, Pietro Belluschi, it is said to be the building that gained Belluschi national prominence in the architecture world. The original owner of the Equitable Building was Equitable Savings and Loan Association. Interior view of office space in Portland's Equitable Building, now known as the Commonwealth Building.
Commercial facilities--Oregon--Portland; Office buildings--Oregon--Portland; Architecture--Oregon--Portland; Architects; Belluschi, Pietro; Equitable Building (Portland, Or.); Commonwealth Building (Portland, Or.);
The new and modern Equitable Building was designed by Portland architect, Pietro Belluschi. In 1950 Belluschi left Portland to become Dean of the School of Architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; a position he held until 1965. Exterior and evening view of the Equitable Building, now known as the Commonwealth Building in Portland, Oregon.
Commercial facilities--Oregon--Portland; Office buildings--Oregon--Portland; Architecture--Oregon--Portland; Architects; Belluschi, Pietro; Equitable Building (Portland, Or.); Commonwealth Building (Portland, Or.);
The Equitable Building appeared in the magazine "Interiors" December 1949 edition, in a "Postwar Architecture" section. The building had a fireproof reinforced concrete frame, covered in sparkling aluminum and panels of green tinted glass. View of elevators and telephone located in lobby area, in Portland's Equitable Building, now known as the Commonwealth Building.
Commercial facilities--Oregon--Portland; Office buildings--Oregon--Portland; Architecture--Oregon--Portland; Architects; Belluschi, Pietro; Equitable Building (Portland, Or.); Commonwealth Building (Portland, Or.);
The Equitable Building was Oregon's first International style commercial office building. International style features include a flat roof, a smooth continuous wall surface, an absence of decorative elements, and use of modern building materials such as aluminum and tinted glass. Exterior view of Portland's Equitable Building, now known as the Commonwealth Building, taken in January of 1949.
Commercial facilities--Oregon--Portland; Office buildings--Oregon--Portland; Architecture--Oregon--Portland; Architects; Belluschi, Pietro; Equitable Building (Portland, Or.); Commonwealth Building (Portland, Or.);
Portland's Equitable Building cost approximately $4,000,000 to construct, it is one of the nation's few skyscrapers built since the end of World War II. Pietro Belluschi was the architect, Ross B. Hammond was the general contractor. Exterior view of the Equitable Building, now known as the Commonwealth Building in Portland, Oregon.
Commercial facilities--Oregon--Portland; Office buildings--Oregon--Portland; Architecture--Oregon--Portland; Architects; Belluschi, Pietro; Equitable Building (Portland, Or.); Commonwealth Building (Portland, Or.);
The building had a modern heat pump that was used in heating and cooling the facilities. This heat pump could extract heat or cold from well water as deep as 500 feet below the building. View of unidentified man in work area, possibly located in the basement; in Portland's Equitable Building, now known as the Commonwealth Building.
Commercial facilities--Oregon--Portland; Office buildings--Oregon--Portland; Architecture--Oregon--Portland; Architects; Belluschi, Pietro; Equitable Building (Portland, Or.); Commonwealth Building (Portland, Or.);
The Equitable Building was an amazing combination of two-toned aluminum and glass, with not a square inch of masonry showing above the first floor. It had innovative big window panels filled with green tinted, heat absorbing glass. 1949 exterior view of the Equitable Building and neon sign above, now known as the Commonwealth Building in Portland, Oregon.
Commercial facilities--Oregon--Portland; Office buildings--Oregon--Portland; Architecture--Oregon--Portland; Architects; Belluschi, Pietro; Equitable Building (Portland, Or.); Commonwealth Building (Portland, Or.);
The windows in the building stretch from column to column, but not from floor to ceiling. This building made a striking advance in technological skyscraper planning. Architect Pietro Belluschi's design was able to achieve a perfect expression of the standard concrete cage. Exterior view of the Equitable Building, now known as the Commonwealth Building in Portland, Oregon.
Commercial facilities--Oregon--Portland; Office buildings--Oregon--Portland; Architecture--Oregon--Portland; Architects; Belluschi, Pietro; Equitable Building (Portland, Or.); Commonwealth Building (Portland, Or.);
The Equitable Building was the first skyscraper to be constructed in Portland in 25 years. Pietro Belluschi was highly praised for the design innovations and the buildings straight forward use of materials. Interior view of office space in Portland's Equitable Building, now known as the Commonwealth Building; unidentified man is working at his desk, downtown Portland view through his office window.
Commercial facilities--Oregon--Portland; Office buildings--Oregon--Portland; Architecture--Oregon--Portland; Architects; Belluschi, Pietro; Equitable Building (Portland, Or.); Commonwealth Building (Portland, Or.);
This new modern building, designed by Northwest architect Pietro Belluschi, was not well received in Portland at first, because of the "skeleton outline" structure. It later became the standard example in new and modern office facilities throughout the nation. Exterior view of the Equitable Building, now known as the Commonwealth Building in Portland, Oregon.
Commercial facilities--Oregon--Portland; Office buildings--Oregon--Portland; Architecture--Oregon--Portland; Architects; Belluschi, Pietro; Equitable Building (Portland, Or.); Commonwealth Building (Portland, Or.);
