The Caldera Arts Center – Hearth Building, designed by Allied Works Architecture, is a multi-use structure located in the Cascade Range on the shores of Blue Lake. The building was completed in 2004 and serves as the central hub for Caldera, a non-profit organization that brings innovative arts programming to under-served students and communities in Portland and Central Oregon.
The Hearth Building is characterized by its crescent-shaped plan, organized as several interlocking wood platforms. The building gathers the central functions of Caldera under a cedar-shake roof anchored by two monumental concrete fireplaces. It houses a multi-purpose performance hall, library, and art studios, all of which open to sheltered space, light, ventilation, and views on all sides. The design of the Hearth Building echoes the form of the surrounding volcanic crater and the material and structure of the enclosing pine forest. This creates a resonant space for education, gathering, and artistic production.
