Nathaniel M.
Yelp
I feel weird for reviewing a skyscraper, but this building amplifies "brutalist" architecture in a way that screams unique. This is not everyone's favorite building, as at one point due to its' height, caused a public outcry for the potential of other towers blocking views of the city and the mountains. Nonetheless, this is currently Oregon's tallest building standing proudly at 546 feet. A common misconception is that the U.S. Bancorp Tower (Big Pink) is the tallest building in Oregon even though it is 10 feet shorter than the Wells Fargo Center. It was built in 1972, which was a time period where buildings were built for their purpose and not their appearance. The outside is draped with marble and columns of dark windows. This gives it a "zebra-like" appearance with visibility from north, south, and east of Downtown Portland. There is also a small plaza located in the lower portions of the building containing a few shops and restaurants. Off of the top of my head, I know that there is a convenience store and a deli.
When you walk in the front doors off of SW 5th Avenue, you are introduced to a display of Wells Fargo history. It is a small, yet tasteful museum. Moving inward, there are two elevator banks. One of which takes you to the lower floors of the tower and the other takes you to the higher floors of the tower. The elevators are extremely modern as you must select which floor you are going to on an electronic board.
A few months ago, I actually had the privilege to come here for an interview. Now, I might be a little bit biased as I am a sucker for beautiful views, but once I reached my designated floor, I was taken aback by the views of east side. I was able to see the entirety of Portland's east side as well as the various hills and mountains. Mt. Hood caught my eye as it was a beautiful, cloudless day.
I recommend coming to this building if you ever have the chance!