Historic review board clears ODFW's replacement office at the fish hatchery after design discussion

The Clackamas County Historic Review Board on Tuesday approved application Z0501-25, allowing the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) to replace an on-site residence with a new office building at the county-designated fish hatchery campus after a presentation and discussion about design, materials and public access.

Architects from Dow Architecture, led by principal David Horsley, told the board the existing residence has been altered so extensively that several experts, including the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), found it no longer retained the integrity needed to be considered historic. Horsley said the existing 2,600-square-foot office could not be adapted for ODFW's operational needs and that a properly sized new building would better serve staff and visitors.

"It wasn't desirable or feasible, or possible to really reuse the 2,600 square foot structure...it wasn't historic anymore in the eyes of...SHPO," Horsley said when explaining the replacement rationale. The architects showed imagery of proposed materials and a design approach that favors a 3:12 roof pitch, wide porches and clerestory daylighting to balance light and shading in a wooded site.

ODFW project manager Ryan McCormick told the board the design includes a publicly accessible conference room entry and that ODFW has precedent for outside groups using agency meeting spaces. "We do have a publicly accessible entry...so the intention is that would be a space that could be used for the public to enter," McCormick said.

Board members raised concerns about the building's scale (the proposed building is roughly 10,000 square feet compared with about 2,600 for the existing house) and urged stronger Craftsman-style joinery, natural stone elements and other details that would tie the new building to the site's historic context. Architects said cost and maintenance trade-offs would require value engineering but that they would incorporate as much joinery and stone as feasible.

The architects also confirmed a standing-seam metal roof for durability and that photovoltaic panels will be included per state requirements, sited so they are not visible from the primary facade. Board members asked about the fate of the existing house if it cannot be sold; the project team said buildings older than roughly 50 years would be deconstructed rather than demolished and that salvage specifications would be included.

Following discussion, a motion to approve Z0501-25 was moved and seconded. The chair called the vote and announced a majority in favor. Staff will record project details and any follow-up documentation in the file.