(Rendering courtesy of The Westman)
This summer, a new hotel is coming to Downtown Bend, revitalizing the historic post office building on the corner of Franklin and Wall. The Westman, named after a mail carrier from the 1880s named Minnie Westman, will revitalize the old space while connecting guests with a piece of Oregon history.
Miss Minnie Westman, an Oregonian herself, made history when she became the first female mail carrier west of the Mississippi River. The Portland Oregonian, as it was called back then, published an article about her adventures in 1888, which was then picked up by The New York Times about two weeks later.
Despite encountering dangers like bears on her route, the article described Minnie as fearless, saying she carried mail night and day on horseback with her trusty revolver on her hip. At just 20 years old, she was making her mark on history.
137 years later, Embarcadero Hospitality Group (EHG), R&H Construction and Emerick Architects all now get to pay homage to Minnie, and leave their own mark on Bend by bringing life to a historic post office building. “The Westman is deeply connected to the rich history of Bend,” said a spokesperson for EHG. “As part of the Public Buildings Program, the post office was one of a handful of federal buildings built during the depression era to reduce unemployment and revitalize the economy. It later served as a gathering place for Bendite WWII volunteers who kept the local community informed about America’s war efforts. As the new stewards of this historic building, we will continue the building’s legacy as a place for the community to congregate and enjoy fellowship.”
Emerick Architects were tasked with the challenge of modernizing the space while still maintaining the history, style and nostalgic charm of the old building. The Portland-based firm has a resume filled with adaptive reuse and renovation projects with a focus on preservation and sustainability, making them an obvious choice for this project. “Wherever possible, we prioritized preservation over replacement for both its environmental choice and design ethos,” a spokesperson for the group said. “Much of the building’s original structure and materials have been retained and restored, including terrazzo flooring, original windows and much of the granite and brickwork.”
In addition, they spoke about what an honor it is to preserve this historic building and contribute to Bend’s downtown. “Having the honor to preserve this original building is incredibly rewarding. The Westman isn’t just a hotel, it’s a chapter in Bend’s evolving story as it continues to be a hot spot for visitors near and far. To know that we’ve helped breathe new life into a landmark that holds personal and historical meaning for so many in the community is such a rare opportunity, and we’re excited to unveil the beautiful space that blends old with the new.”
On the construction side, R&H Construction handled the project. With more than 20 years of operation in Central Oregon, R&H projects can be found all around, such as the Waypoint Hotel, Forest House at Caldera Springs, Sen Thai Noodles and Hot Pot, the Hayden Homes Amphitheater and many more.
R&H said that there were some challenges to overcome during the process, but that can be expected with, “any adaptive reuse project focused on preservation instead of demolition.” In addition, they pointed out the many environmental benefits of a project such as this, “One of the standout advantages of adaptive reuse projects is environmental sustainability. By repurposing an existing building and choosing preservation over complete renovation, we have significantly lowered the environmental impact of construction by minimizing demolition waste, decreased the need for new materials and saved on energy used during construction.”
The R&H team was able to preserve many components from the original construction, including 66,000 bricks, 1,900 square feet of terrazzo flooring, 44 windows, 16 interior doors and many other elements like lighting, stairs, and enough concrete to account for a 30 percent decrease in their concrete usage, compared to a new build.
The Westman, operated by EHG, will feature 23 distinct rooms, with each designed to showcase the historical elements of the building, including a historic postal vault door that was unearthed during the demolition. A spokesperson for EHG said, “This remarkable artifact, once guarding the original vault, will soon be on display in one of our mezzanine suites to offer guests a tangible connection to the building’s past and a chance to admire a rare piece of Bend’s postal history.”
The Westman will provide guests with another opportunity to enjoy everything Downtown Bend has to offer, but with a flair for history. Check it out when the doors open in summer 2025.
