Nestled within Portland, Oregon’s tree-lined Mt. Scott–Arleta neighborhood, the Mt. Scott Community Center reimagines a once-fragmented campus into a cohesive, modern facility. Its design takes cues from the warmth and simplicity of a forest cabin, featuring sloping rooflines, deep overhangs, and an inviting “front porch” entry that creates a welcoming sense of arrival.
What was once a patchwork of buildings dating from the 1920s through the 1990s has been transformed into a unified facility designed to serve the community for decades to come. The Community Center expansion introduces light-filled spaces for a variety of programs, including a welcoming lobby, modern fitness center, a flexible event hall, and vibrant preschool classrooms. Thoughtfully varied roof heights and stepping forms preserve mature trees and mirror the surrounding residential scale, helping the center feel grounded in its neighborhood.
AEP Span’s metal panels define much of the project’s character, blending natural tones with modern performance. SpanSeam™ roofing in a striated panel type and Flat Sheet in Parchment provide a warm, understated backdrop, while Select Seam® Shingle Cladding and Box Rib™ in Weathered Copper introduce depth and visual texture. Flush Panels add a refined finish to the soffits, unifying the overall composition. Together, these products complement the building’s wood-inspired design while offering the lasting durability and resilience of steel.
Together, these AEP Span products not only elevate the building’s design but also provide the long-term performance essential for a community space. Finished in a high-performance PVDF paint system, the Parchment and Weathered Copper colors offer exceptional resistance to fading, chalking, and weathering, ensuring the Mt. Scott Community Center will retain its beauty and durability for years to come.