As you drive down high street here in Salem Oregon, the mustard yellow building kind of jumps out at you. The first time I saw this finished building I wasn’t sure what to make of it. Was it seriously ugly or seriously cool?
Salmon Run was built in 2004 by Curry Brandaw. It is a mixed use space that has a few condos and office space. Situated on Mill Creek, the building has a very nestled feeling when the leaves come in during the spring. The location is fabulous as it sits just across the street from Pringle Park.
The building replaced the Five Oaks Building which lacked any type of architectural distinction. It is a definite improvement over it’s predecessor, that’s for sure. One of the things I always liked about living in the Chicago area was the vastly different architecture of the city. It’s lack of sameness is what made it kind of cool. To that end, Salmon Run has achieved a unique look that I think is a nice addition to the changing look of the downtown core.
My final verdict on the Salmon Run Building? It’s grown on me: I like it now.
Read the other posts in this series.
This photo was used from the Salem Public Libraries Historic Photos Collection.