CITY OF ALBINA

project date: 2010 | by peter reedijk

The original city of Albina, platted in 1872, developed along the east bank of the Willamette River. The city was settled in three parts, generally categorized in terms of Lower, Central, and Upper.

Albina saw much industrial, commercial, and residential growth after the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company chose the city as its western terminus in 1882. Industrial growth in Lower Albina created employment opportunities for Portland's burgeoning immigrant population. The area proved an ideal location for the Northwestern Electric Company to build a new industrial power generation and service building in 1926.

The Northwestern Electric Company was founded in 1911. It constructed the Albina Service Center Building for industrial power generation and service. Martin Schact, son of Portland architect Emil Schacht, was the architect.

Construction of the Lower Albina Overpass required the demolition of the Albina Service Center Building in 2001.