Nathaniel West Buildings
L'école buissonnière, in partnership with Mother Foucault's Bookshop, has purchased the historic Nathaniel West Building No. 1, securing a permanent home for our community of writers, readers, artists, misfits, and dreamers. Beginning in 2026, programs and services will be offered on all three floors of the building.
The second floor of the historic Nathaniel West Building is home to seven studio spaces rented to local artists working in a range of media from painting to video. Contemporary art gallery SOCIETY, also located on the second floor, hosts quarterly exhibitions and frequent lectures and events.
More information can be found at societysocietysociety.com
711–727 SE Grand Avenue | 1892–1896
The Nathaniel West Buildings are among the oldest surviving commercial structures in East Portland. Built in 1892 and 1896, these brick buildings reflect a pivotal moment in the city’s growth as Grand Avenue emerged as a major commercial corridor.
The earlier building features the Italianate style, with decorative details that signaled prosperity in the late 19th century. Its neighbor, constructed four years later, reflects the more restrained Streetcar Era Commercial style, shaped by the rapid urban expansion made possible by streetcar transportation.
Named for Nathaniel West (1826–1897)—a merchant, developer, and president of the East Portland City Council—the buildings represent West’s lasting influence on the neighborhood. He was instrumental in promoting the original Morrison Bridge, which connected East Portland to downtown and accelerated development on the east side.
Over time, the buildings have housed shops, residences, restaurants, and social spaces, adapting to the changing needs of the city.
Today, they stand as enduring witnesses to Portland’s commercial and civic history.