Building Five is a 5,000-square-foot contemporary arts venue in Portland dedicated to large-scale installations, interdisciplinary residencies, and community programming.
Housed in a transformed World War II–era industrial building once part of NW Marine Ironworks, the space reflects an extensive capital improvement project and a long-term investment in the local arts ecosystem.
Our Mission
Our mission is to cultivate installation, performance, and workshop-based art within a dynamic fermentation chamber—an experimental space where ideas, practices, and communities mix, transform, and evolve.
Our Values
We value art and creative expression,
BIG IDEAS, nontraditional practices and presentation, honesty, collaboration, and diversity in all its forms.
Our Vision
Our vision is for B5 to be a place that cultivates openness and belonging—an expansive space where big ideas take shape, artists grow their practices and careers, and communities gather for bold, transformative creative experiences.
B5 Annual Art Residencies
Exhibition & Space Rentals
Building Five’s residencies transform our expansive venue into a laboratory for artistic experimentation. Each year, artists are invited to fully activate the space—creating ambitious, site-specific, and interdisciplinary work that engages with the architecture, the community, and each other. Residents have the freedom to push boundaries, explore scale and material, and develop projects that extend beyond the walls of the gallery, making the space itself an integral part of the creative process.
Building Five is more than a residency space—it’s a hub for creative exchange. Beyond our formal residency cycles, we collaborate with artists, collectives, and makers at every stage of their practice. From one-off installations and pop-up projects to workshops and public programs, these artists bring fresh perspectives and bold ideas to our community.
By supporting creative work beyond the residency, we cultivate a dynamic ecosystem where innovation, experimentation, and collaboration thrive year-round.
Propose anexhibition or creative project and bring your vision to life at Building 5—a space built for experimentation, collaboration, and bold ideas. From site-specific installations to immersive public experiences, we welcome projects that challenge boundaries and spark dialogue.
RentBuilding 5 for your event, project, or production and tap into the energy of one of Portland’s most inspiring creative spaces. With 5,000 square feet of natural light and industrial character, the space offers a striking backdrop for performances, film shoots, workshops, and gatherings of all kinds.
We’d love to hear from you.
Contact us to share your proposal, inquire about rentals, or start a conversation about how Building 5 can support your next creative endeavor.
Our Team
Erin Dengerink
Executive Director
Demetri Pavlatos & Bryce Frimming
Technical Support
Pamela Chipman
Project Manager
Tanith Hawthorne
Creative Director