The Ambassador
1209 SW 6th Ave
The Ambassador Apartments, listed on the National Record of Historic places, was originally designed by Carl L. Linde. Linde was also commissioned to build many individual homes as well as the nearby Sovereign, Envoy, Tudor Arms and Embassy buildings. The Ambassador remains the finest example of Linde s contribution to Portland architecture. The building was completed in 1923. Ownership was transferred several times. In 1977, The Ambassador was sold to Ambassador Associates and in 1978 the Ambassador Apartments" was converted to condominiums.
The nine-story building with Columbian brick facing and cast Boise sandstone trim featuring tiers of bay windows and a crenellated parapet in the eastern recess is a splendid example of building in the Jacobean style. As were typical of local construction in 1922-23, the engineering and construction methods used reinforced (steel rebar) concrete footings, foundation walls, columns and beams,floor slabs and roof slabs. The interior non-bearing partitions are terra-cotta tilewith plaster finish. Originally, two freestanding street lamps at the curb flankedthe entrance and a small fountain stood in the center of the entrance walkway.The original exterior lighting fixtures, designed by Fred C. Baker, a noted lighting designer,remain in the entrance recesses on either side of the front door. The current front doors withsidelights are also original. There are currently 45 residential units including 1 studio, 3 one-bedroom units, 33 two-bedroom units and 8 three-bedroom units. Most units have been remodeled from the original footprint and no two are alike.
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