KOIN Center, Portland, Oregon
Posted by: 
Rose Red
N 45° 30.803 W 122° 40.656
10T E 525182 N 5040033
The KOIN Center, a multi-purpose skyscraper, is Portland’s third tallest building.
Waymark Code: WMYKE
Location: Oregon, United States
Date Posted: 11/13/2006
Views: 105
The KOIN Center (1981-1984), a multi-purpose skyscraper, is located at 222 SW Columbia Street in downtown Portland. The Columbia Street entrance features a dramatic 23'-6" tall ceiling. The KOIN Center is Portland’s third tallest building with 35 stories (no 13th floor) with a height of 509 feet (155 meters). The highest building is the Wells Fargo Tower and the second highest is the U.S. Bancorp Tower. The KOIN Center was designed by the firm of Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership.
The exterior is a combination of natural limestone and brick, trimmed in marble with grey-tinted reflective glass windows. The galvanized steel crown has stainless steel edges and is color-coated sky blue.
The KOIN Center has three distinct uses, all located in separate parts of the building. Offices are located on the lower floors; and 48 luxury condos occupy the upper floors of the building. The remainder of the building houses Portland’s CBS affiliate KOIN TV, Channel 6 with a webcam on top. Radio stations also use the building’s facilities. The distinctive spire that crowns the building’s pyramid houses the equipment used for broadcasting television and radio signals.
The building has been nicknamed “The Mechanical Pencil.”