Tour the new Patricia Reser Center for the Arts in Oregon
This month, the community of Beaverton, Oregon, welcomed a new haven for artistic expression with the opening of Patricia Reser Center for the Arts (The Reser). Over the past three years, our Portland team built the 45,000 square-foot multidisciplinary arts center home to a 550-seat proscenium theater, rehearsal spaces, an art gallery, outdoor plaza and more. Through photos, explore the world-class space making its mark on downtown Beaverton.
The Reser’s Mainstage Theater is modeled after the inside of a beaver’s home with back-lit wood paneling lining the walls and ceiling, creating a warm glow and intimate feel for audience members. The prominent wood material throughout was chosen for aesthetic and functional reasons with the aim of providing an exquisite acoustic experience. Vivid blue seating mirrors that of a pond. (Photo credit: Jeremy Jeziorski)
State-of-the-art equipment is in place for orchestral performances, film screenings, theatrical productions and more. (Photo credit: Jeremy Jeziorski)
The venue’s opening week lineup featured performances by Zimbabwean music group, Nobuntu, and The Count Basie Orchestra. The Reser’s inaugural performance season showcases the diversity and beauty of our world through art. (Photo supplied by the artist)
Light floods into the window-walled lobby of The Reser where rotating work from Pacific Northwest artists are featured regularly and available for viewing at no cost. Pat Reser, the building’s namesake and local philanthropist, has voiced that, “she wants the center to be ‘for everyone’” and that, “(Arts) should never just be a privilege.” Her sentiments infused the planning process for the space which seeks to make art accessible for all. “Celilo–Never Silenced,” is the first gallery on display, with paintings of Indigenous artists telling a story about a sacred tribal fishery impacted by the completion of The Dalles Dam. (Photo credit: Jeremy Jeziorski)
The first facility of its kind in 30 years for the Portland suburb, The Reser is establishing itself as a touchstone for engaging with the arts, culture and more. The upper walkway is a gateway to learning, gathering and scenic views of the surrounding Pacific Northwest landscape–on a clear day, you can spot Mount Hood from the second floor. The beauty and wildlife of Beaverton Creek immediately outside the venue connects visitors with a peaceful escape. (Photo credit: Jeremy Jeziorski)
The Reser’s multipurpose room, The Lab, will host masterclasses, workshops and entertainment events like high-top table comedy nights. The Plaza, sitting on the banks of Beaverton Creek, is open to the public and will host outdoor concerts and events. (Photo credit: Jeremy Jeziorski)
The $55 million project started with an idea decades ago that took shape through Beaverton’s award-winning Community Visioning process. In recent years, funding the center was a true rallying moment for the community. Alongside Pat and the Reser family, local government officials, the Beaverton Arts Foundation and Beaverton Arts Commission were deeply involved. Over 1,000 individuals, from residents to business owners also contributed, giving financial gifts ranging from $2 to $1.5 million, resulting in the project exceeding its construction campaign goal during a pandemic. (Photo credit: Jeremy Jeziorski)
Located less than 300 feet from the Beaverton Central MAX Station, The Reser is accessible to the Portland metro area. Commuters can hop on the Red and Blue lines or drive to Beaverton where a seven story, 350-space parking garage attached to The Reser awaits them. (Photo credit: Opsis Architecture)
Alongside Skanska, key design and development partners shaped the planning and build process. Edlen & Company, a mission-driven real estate investment, development and asset management firm and Opsis Architecture, brought the vision for the space to life, ensuring sustainability, inclusion and community would be key hallmarks of the completed project. (Photo credit: Jeremy Jeziorski)