At the collision of downtown Portland’s two major grids and in the shadow of the city’s tallest building, Shift is an economical thirty story mixed-use tower which serves as an icon and catalyst for community connections. The ground floor contains a local gallery, community arts co-op, subsidized retail space, and restaurants, all transforming a once drab parking lot into a lively continuation of the urban fabric. The upper tower offers office space and affordable low-income apartments ranging from 400 to 700 square feet. To enforce the dynamic energy of the city at this location, each level of the tower appears to shift and slide in relation to the grid and sight-lines, and is achieved by simply extending and receding the concrete slab at each level with minimal extra cost. Having a total of only four simple plans and floor plates varying in orientation, economy and structural efficiency are maintained while providing additional shading and offering outdoor space to those on upper levels. This project demonstrates the unique and dynamic qualities that an otherwise static building can take on when slight variations and patterns to the structure are explored.