Noise mitigation was a defining design challenge. To reduce street noise within the courtyard and interiorbar spaces, the team developed a site strategy that lowered the finished floor below the grade of theadjacent public way. This subtle yet effective move, combined with a continuous landscape berm alongthe perimeter, creates a natural acoustic barrier that enhances comfort and reduces the auditory impactof traffic without resortingto walls or fencing. The result is a quiet, convivial setting that feels both urbanand sheltered—a rare quality in Portland’s food-cart scene.

Sustainability and craft were embedded from the start. Lumber salvaged from the site’s former restaurantwas repurposed for the bar top, bar front, and dining tables, imbuing the new project with a tangibleconnection to its past. The modest material palette ofreclaimed wood and mass-timber structurereflects the authenticity of the neighborhood while ensuring durability and low maintenance for long-termcommunity use.