When bicyclists and pedestrians stop to sit and enjoy the view from one of the benches on the Sellwood Bridge lookouts, they will be sitting on furniture created by local high school students.
Four benches made of juniper wood and steel were designed and built by students and installed on the belvederes on the north and south sides of the bridge. The benches are the result of an innovative School-Based Outreach Program that involved more than 2,000 local students during the design and construction of the bridge.
The bench project began with design work by students in the ACE Academy (Academy for Architecture Construction and Engineering). The northeast Portland school, which closed earlier this year, was a free public charter high school serving east county students interested in architecture, construction, and engineering. More recently, ACE students working with instructor Angela Wright fabricated curving planks of juniper for the bench seats and backs.
Multnomah County bridge maintenance staff took care of finishes for the wood and steel, and installed the benches this summer.
The benches have a curving seat to match the half moon shape of the belvederes. Each belvedere also has an interpretive sign describing the history of the bridge and surrounding landmarks. The belvederes offer a peaceful place for bicyclists and pedestrians to pause and enjoy the view, out of the way of sidewalk traffic.
The students worked with engineer Eric Rau, of TY Lin International, who was a project manager on the Sellwood Bridge project. Lois Cohen of Lois D. Cohen Associates managed the Sellwood project’s schools program.
Students and adults involved in the bench project met Multnomah County Chair Deborah Kafoury and members of the news media on August 19 to show off their finished project. Students attending included Sam Dorning, Vlad Kruz, and Seth Townsend from Centennial, and Taylor Lehman from ACE. Braden Dukart and Keleb Parschall at Centennial also helped fabricate the benches.
It is rare for a bridge to have permanent elements designed and built by high school students. Our thanks to the local students and their instructors and supporters for a job well done!
