Tilikum Crossing is the nation's first multi-modal bridge that will be off-limits to private automobiles. It will carry MAX light rail trains (the impetus for construction) as well as Portland's streetcar line and city buses, and of course pedestrian and bike lanes on both sides—but no cars. [...]

"Transit has a huge impact on urban planning. I mean, if you look at our city, it was designed around streetcars. On some level, it has to be part of their DNA." — citylab.com

There’s no smooth sailing for at least one of Google’s mysterious barges.

Parts of the $4 million boat, located in Portland, Maine, are being sold for scrap, a Google spokesperson has confirmed to Fortune.

Google’s three barges sparked a media storm of inquiries when they first appeared in 2013, raising questions about their purpose. Were they floating data centers? A secret lab to design and launch Google’s next stunning project? — fortune.com

The 21-story, three-building apartment project now rising in Portland's Lloyd District will create more long-term bike parking than any other project in the nation, with four huge new storage facilities in four buildings and an on-site bike valet parking service to serve the biggest one. [...]

Bike experts in Canada, Mexico and across the United States said they didn't know of any single project on the continent with more bike parking; Mexico's largest facility, at a train station, holds 800. — Bike Portland

Sixteen years after the city spent $9 million to fix the 1982 postmodernist icon’s sagging 14th and 15th floor, it’s now facing a $95-million top-to-bottom overhaul because virtually every joint in the building is leaking. But as haters of the building call for its demolition and preservationists wail to save it, I’d like to pose a simple question that ought to be asked before spending millions of dollars to save any historic building: is the real thing better than the pictures? — portlandmonthlymag.com

Imagine a hospital on top of a mountain. How would doctors and patients get in and out? In Portland, Ore., commuters don't have to drive up a twisty, two-lane road to get there. Instead, they glide up 500 feet in the air in a gleaming silver gondola.

Portland's aerial tram connects the south waterfront down near the river to the Oregon Health and Science University on top of Marquam Hill. — npr.org

If you're in Portland, Oregon these days, don't miss to check out the exhibition BEIJING by visual artist Aaron Yassin, currently on view at Chambers@916.

BEIJING, Yassin's latest project, is a series of dynamic and mesmerizing architectural photographic composites built from images of iconic buildings in Beijing, spanning hundreds of years, from the Temple of Heaven to the Bird’s Nest Stadium. — bustler.net

Hop aboard the Portland Streetcar to discover the city's hidden architectural gems. Disembark along the route and reflect on the stonework of the Armory. Hop on the next car and travel a few blocks to Tanner Springs park. This photo essay is a sample of what one might see between the South Waterfront and Northwest portland. — photos.oregonlive.com

“It had such a low budget. I was criticized for putting the windows in too small, but it got more expensive the more glass I had. I wasn’t the one who put the workers near the windows, limiting the light let in. Most people don’t realize I didn’t design the interior.”

Despite proceeding to design award-winning buildings and products worldwide, Graves holds the Portland Building as one of his greatest achievements. He still enjoys talking about the sculpture that sits in front, Portlandia. — djcoregon.com

The majority of architecture culture just puts out books. I mean, if we were to participate in that consumer culture of architecture publications, we would have put a book out six or seven years ago.

But I wanted to wait until we had buildings. We feature one competition in the book and the rest of it is about real projects. That means a lot to me as an architect. — oregonlive.com

The reason I'm here and in this gallery is because bicycles in this city are being custom built and designed with love and skill and intelligence in a way that architects design buildings for people when they really get things right.

Portland is a beacon to so many other cities. It's easy for people to dismiss Holland or Denmark, but not Portland. — bikeportland.org