Property Watch: A Swanky Penthouse in the Fontaine near Lloyd Center

When the Lloyd Center, once the biggest shopping mall in the country, was built in 1960, its development was “considered war on downtown” Portland. Perhaps the nearby Fontaine apartment building was another competitor in that particular fight. After all, the Fontaine was the first high-rise building constructed on the east side, completed in 1963 just down Multnomah Street from Lloyd Center, and soaring a dramatic 17 floors up.

That verticality is emphasized by the exterior design, which includes projecting concrete fins and full-height gold anodized aluminum screens punctuated by horizontal bands of geometric windows. We’re particularly into the modernized deco flourishes, such as the curving scalloped gold screen that wraps the entry on the main floor. (That screen looks cool all lit up at night, too.)

While some sources, including Docomomo, a nonprofit that documents and works to conserve the Modern movement, attribute the building to the firm Newberry, Roehr & Schuette, the Fontaine’s history credits the design to Mid Barbour, a pioneering woman architect who was also a hot rod driver and who raced boats as a hydroplaner, fixed engines, and, in her 60s, took a 5,000-mile trip through British Columbia, Alaska, and the Yukon Territories.

A half-page ad in The Oregonian in 1964 billed the Fontaine as “Portland’s newest and finest address,” and this recently renovated penthouse on the 17th floor—with amenities and upgrades totaling $165K—evokes the historical hype. (Also: There are only four units up there, and the real estate agent notes that they don’t come on the market often.)

The remodel was completed by Andrew Adams Design and Dan Betenbender of Betenbender Construction, and the 1,336-square-foot home luxuriates in far-reaching views. We’re talking unobstructed sights of Mounts Hood, Adams, and St. Helens, as well as cozy high-end finishes close at hand. This includes the built-in bookshelves anchoring the living room, the kitchen’s custom cabinetry and quartzite, and the marble tile underfoot in both bathrooms.

Then there are the less obvious details that make the unit more comfortable, like the cork floors installed with a noise-reduction layer, the new heat pumps with AC, so many closets, and the custom window coverings. Midcentury accents maintain the building’s original rep, like the grasscloth wall covering in the primary bedroom, polished nickel fixtures (from Rejuvenation) in both baths, and vintage midcentury Czech pressed glass lights hanging over the dining table. The mirrored backsplash in the kitchen is an especially nice touch so dinner guests with their back to the windows can still enjoy the view.

• Address: 1220 NE 17th Ave, Unit 17H
• Size: 1,336 square feet, 2 bed/2 bath 
• List Date: 12/5/2024
• List Price: $669,000, with $1,008/month HOA dues 
• Listing Agent: Lulu Barker, Windermere Realty Trust

Melissa Dalton is a freelance writer who has focused on Pacific Northwest design and lifestyle since 2008. She is based in Portland, Oregon. Contact Dalton here. 

Editor’s Note: Portland Monthly’s “Property Watch” column takes a weekly look at an interesting home in Portland’s real estate market (with periodic ventures to the burbs and points beyond, for good measure). Got a home you think would work for this column? Get in touch at [email protected].