The adaptive reuse of Milwaukie City Hall transforms the historic 1937 Public Works Administration-era building into a vibrant commercial and cultural hub in the heart of downtown Milwaukie, Oregon. Once home to essential city functions—including the mayor’s office, council chambers, city departments, public library, police and fire stations, and a community meeting hall—this compact yet vital facility served as the cornerstone of civic life for over 85 years.

Reimagined through a $5 million revitalization effort, the project preserves the building’s architectural legacy while supporting economic development and community-rooted stewardship. Led by City Hall Holdings, the renewed space now welcomes key tenants such as pFriem Family Brewers and Keeper Coffee, aligning with the city’s vision for a lively, inclusive, and sustainable downtown.

Through inclusive tenant selection, public access, arts engagement, and strong civic partnerships, the project preserves a vital community asset and fosters connections across Milwaukie’s diverse population.

Now open seven days a week, from early morning through evening, the building once again serves as a welcoming civic gathering space. Tenants were chosen not only for their commercial viability and regional recognition but also for their alignment with community values and their contributions to the social fabric of Milwaukie.

Keeper Coffee, a woman-owned café founded by Brittany Huff in 2019, is known for its sustainable sourcing, homemade food, and inclusive, welcoming atmosphere. Its expansion into Milwaukie supports small business growth while providing a warm, accessible gathering place.

The transformation converted the 11,945-square-foot building from civic use into two restaurant venues on the ground floor and creative office suites on the second floor. Interior renovations included the addition of two staircases, reconfigured restrooms, selective wall removals and additions, new MEP systems, walk-in coolers, and full commercial kitchens. Exterior improvements included structural roof upgrades to accommodate mechanical units, the addition of ADA-accessible ramps, stairs, and guardrails, as well as a heated pergola and outdoor seating with a play space—creating inviting public areas that foster community connection.

Over decades of civic use, the building had been altered with carpeting, dropped ceilings, and temporary partitions that obscured natural light, lowered ceiling heights, and blocked views of the original windows. These modifications were removed to reveal a striking timber structural system, which the team chose to expose and celebrate throughout the renovated space.

In converting the building for modern use, the team approached the project with deep respect for its historic character. Rather than disrupting the original façade with separate entrances, they preserved the historic main entry as the primary entrance for both pFriem Brewing and the building as a whole. A new entry for Keeper Coffee was created along the north façade, utilizing an existing opening and incorporating an ADA-accessible ramp.

Working within a 1930s structure posed challenges, including uneven floor heights and circulation patterns designed for outdated uses. The design and development teams addressed these by retaining the existing elevator and adding one new interior staircase per tenant suite, improving vertical circulation and allowing Keeper Coffee’s employees and food service to move fluidly across all three floors of the building and their 3,042-square-foot tenant space.

Although much of the original hardwood flooring was covered with asbestos mastic and could not be preserved, the team was able to salvage the original floors above Keeper Coffee. Elsewhere, flooring was replaced using salvaged material from a UC Santa Barbara basketball court. Additional highlights on Keeper Coffee’s main floor include new entry doors, custom penny tile flooring, built-in banquette seating and wainscoting, and multiple vintage furniture pieces reimagined as the order counter, retail shelving, hostess stand, and water station. The second floor features reclaimed windows as a partition wall, built-in seating and wainscoting, and additional vintage furniture and lighting throughout.

Developer/Owner: City Hall Holdings LLC, a partnership of Henry Point Development, Owen Gabbert, LLC, and Reside Development
General Contractor: Owen Gabbert, LLC
Architect: Brett Schulz Architect, PC
Interior Designer: Design Department Architecture
Structural Engineer: Kurt Fischer Structural Engineering
Photographer: Gregor Halenda
Tenant: Keeper Coffee