JOHN ROSS

An elegant, elliptical, residential high-rise

John Ross is the second residential project to break ground in the 38-acre South Waterfront Central District. Developed to appeal to a younger audience – people seeking a more urban experience – The John Ross was designed by a nationally recognized Portland architect Robert Thompson along with GBD Architects. Thompson, known for his elegant and modern spaces that embrace light and air, believes in design that enriches the natural and built environment. The building, a 325-foot, 31-story elliptical tower, is already an icon in the Portland skyline. The curved glass wall exaggerates the connection to nature through endless views of Mt. Hood, the city and the Willamette River. At its base, we created a quarter block public plaza and ground floor retail area to activate the street and create a sense of community. John Ross employs a number of sustainable practices. It has been designed to treat stormwater in a very holistic way that allows it to find its natural way back to the Willamette River, using vegetated swales, green streets, ecoroofs and planters to catch and treat storm water. This filters the water and serves to buffer runoff surges into the river. We achieved a LEED Gold designation with an estimated energy savings of 32 percent below code. The John Ross was developed through a joint partnership between Williams & Dame Development and Gerding Edlen Development Company, LLC.

www.thejohnross.com