400 SW Sixth Avenue
| Company type | Office building |
|---|---|
| Industry | Commercial real estate |
| Founded | 1960 |
| Headquarters | Portland, Oregon , United States |
Area served | Portland downtown area |
| Products | Office and retail space |
400 SW Sixth Avenue is an eleven-level office tower located in Downtown Portland, Oregon. Initially known as the First National Bank Building, it debuted in 1960 as a six-story headquarters for the bank. This mid-rise structure encompasses of commercial office and retail areas, with retail spaces primarily situated on the street level. Between 1995 and 2016, Camera World was the principal retail occupant.
History
In 1957, First National Bank of Oregon revealed its intentions to construct a new headquarters, awarding a $3.5 million contract to Hoffman Construction Company. The design, crafted by Stanton, Boles, Maguire & Church, envisioned a five-story building providing of space on the site previously occupied by the Century Theater and Lafayette Building. Construction commenced in December 1957 as a two-stage project: initially erecting a five-story structure to house the bank temporarily, followed by demolition of its 1923 headquarters to make way for an additional five-story extension.
Steel framework installation began in March 1958 with an anticipated completion date set for August 1960. The building was notable for featuring the Northwest’s first glass mosaic curtain wall, installed starting November 1958. The initial section opened in September 1959, highlighted by Italian blue mosaic panels mounted on aluminum frames, complemented by interior finishes such as walnut and marble trim, and included one of the largest carpets installed regionally at that time. The second phase was finalized in September 1960, uniting both structures via a ground-floor connection to the original 1916 First National Bank building on SW 5th Avenue, which remains listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In 1972, First National Bank moved its headquarters to the newly built First National Bank Tower (currently Wells Fargo Center) but retained a branch within the former building. That same year, Schnitzer Investment Company purchased the original property for $3.1 million. Later, in 1976, ownership transferred to First Farwest Life Insurance Company, which renamed it the First Farwest Life Building. Hoffman Construction carried out a expansion in 1983.
The property changed hands again in 1987 when First Farwest sold it to United Trust Fund Inc. for $25 million; however, First Farwest continued as a tenant until its insolvency in 1989. In 1988, Almaden Plaza Associates acquired the building for $30.5 million. Following Farwest’s bankruptcy, John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company took ownership by deed in 1990 due to mortgage default and initiated legal action against United Trust over alleged misrepresentations.
A vertical expansion increased the building to eleven stories in 1992, accompanied by an exterior renovation featuring aluminum and stainless steel finishes. In 1995, Camera World launched its flagship store on the ground floor. The Louis Dreyfus Property Group bought the asset from John Hancock in 1999 before selling it to Felton Properties and Newmark & Co. Real Estate Inc. in 2004 for $30.25 million. By 2011, UTi Worldwide Inc. had become a significant tenant leasing across several floors.
The building was acquired by investors for $68 million in late 2017.
Details
400 Sixth is a modernist structure standing 139 feet tall with a total of 216,108 square feet of gross leasable area that combines retail space on the ground level with office facilities above. Its eleven-story design incorporates an aluminum and stainless steel facade, marble flooring, wood detailing within lobbies and elevators, and aluminum interior accents. Amenities include an underground parking garage with capacity for 70 vehicles and a conference room accommodating up to 50 people. Prominent tenants include Harland Financial Solutions and UTi Worldwide Inc.