University of Oregon grad students re-imagine Old Town-Chinatown

With the opening tonight of an exhibition of work from the University of Oregon Department of Architecture at Project O Gallery, UO professor and MulvannyG2 designer Suenn Ho hopes to ignite public interest in the Old Town-Chinatown neighborhood and energize more community development there.

"I've been working with the Chinatown community as a citizen since 1995," Ho said. "It's a very dear community; they roll up their sleeves and are not afraid of dreaming the big dream."

"Thirteen Years in Portland's Old Town-Chinatown: University of Oregon Projects" will feature images from a 1995 urban design studio taught by Ho and Professor Gerald Gast as well as images from the weekend long celebration that inaugurated the Third and Fourth Avenue Streetscape Improvement project in 2006.

Ho worked with the Portland Development Commission on the $5.3 million streetscape project, which included installation of sculptures and bronze plaques, as well as street improvements to encourage pedestrian traffic in Old Town-Chinatown, such as curb extensions.