By: Shoma Chatterjee
The Portsmouth Square Park restrooms are now open!
Through the 2008 Park Bond, a Restroom Task Force evaluated free-standing restrooms on park property. Due to the high-user count of the Portsmouth Square restroom, the Task Force recommended that its user capacity be increased. At the conclusion of the first community meeting, the preferred solution to increasing user capacity was to replace the existing restroom, rather than to expand or supplement it.
Designed by Hamilton+Aitken Architects, the building architecture is a modern interpretation of traditional Chinese architecture. It is designed to take advantage of natural ventilation and sunlight, durability and ease of maintenance. The sloping roof line with wire-treatment along the edges is designed for pigeon-proofing. A combination of roof overhang and obscure glass limits sightlines into the restroom building from nearby taller buildings.
The Rec and Park Commission approved the concept plan in October 2012, and awarded a construction contract to Chiang CM Construction in July 2014. This project was made possible through the Restroom Program of the voter-approved 2008 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond.