Tucked inside the Moda Center arena and accessible only to VIP patrons, the exclusive Oro Fino lounge combines modern luxury with the exciting, secretive atmosphere of a prohibition style speakeasy. Accessed through an unassuming entrance with a magnetically locked steel door, this lounge is the passion project of the late Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen. The experience of this unique space starts at the entrance, with just a sliver of the outside world peeking in through the slat walls and lighting the Oro Fino signage.

The design team’s biggest challenge for this space was to create a lighting scheme using only indirect sources. The architect did not want direct-view light sources, instead preferring to conceal most of the lighting within the architecture. The Glumac Lighting Studio achieved this by integrating lighting into coves and diffusing light by radiating it through the steel cutout wall panels and inside the coffered wood and fabric ceiling. The lighting design used two runs of fixtures in the wall feature so that no part of the wall goes dark, creating a one-of-a-kind experience for patrons. Carefully selected linear sources contribute to this design, and help the space operate 15% below Oregon’s energy code.

Lighting controls were essential to provide flexibility, and utilized luminaires dimmable to 1%, giving end users the ability to create different scenes throughout; enhancing the intent of the space, which is comfort, warmth, privacy, and elegance.

A brass bar and the sculptural burnt wood throughout the space highlight its combination of Old-World charm and contemporary style. The central art feature of the space is a large mural behind the bar painted by renowned artist, Mark Licari. The Mural is brought to life by grazing high CRI lighting down the wall to capture the color.

Awards

• Award of Merit – Interior Lighting Design, IES Illumination, 2020
• Top Project – Tenant Improvement – 3rd Place, DJC Oregon, 2019

Size: 9,290 square feet
Construction Cost: $849,000
Start/End Date: 2019
Architect: GBD Architects
Contractor: Lorentz Breun Construction
Owner: MEPT Brewery Blocks 2 LLC
Services: Lighting Design

Image Courtesy Elijah Hoffman