H13PDX: Portland's New 3rd Place Hub for Creatives.
Hangar 13 is driven by ideas and the people bold enough to chase them—not by profits, trends, or playing it safe.
Hangar 13 is a creative hub designed for those who make, build, and innovate. More than just a workspace, it’s a third space—a place outside of home and work where artists, filmmakers, musicians, and creators can connect, experiment, and push their craft forward. It’s a hands-on environment where ideas move from concept to execution, and collaboration fuels the next wave of Portland’s creative movement.
Housed in a legendary Quonset hut, Hangar 13 carries the boundary-pushing energy of the minds behind Freakybuttrue Peculiarium—a Portland institution built on unconventional creativity, weird science, and offbeat storytelling. That same rebellious spirit is infused into this space, merging with a commitment to reimagining creative ecosystems. Here, independent minds come together to experiment, break things, learn fast, and bring ideas to life—building things that people want and love, right in their own backyard.
Originally designed in 1941 by the U.S. Navy, Quonset huts were built for efficiency, adaptability, and durability—many still stand today as a testament to their ingenuity. Hangar 13 applies those same principles—modular design, rapid assembly, and multifunctionality—to how it fosters collaboration and creation.
This space is being reimagined from the ground up with and for the local creative community. It evolves to meet the needs of the people who show up, experiment, and contribute. Here, barriers are lowered, taking the first step feels possible, and the groundwork is laid for something that truly belongs to the people who create within it.
Portland’s Creative Legacy—and Its Future
Portland has long been a city of outsiders, artists, underground creatives, and independent thinkers—people who carve their own path. It has fought to hold onto its unique identity, built by those who embrace the unconventional and push boundaries. But over time, many of the spaces that once held that spirit have disappeared, and places where creatives can truly converge—not just to network, but to build together—have become harder to find.
Hangar 13 is here to change that. It’s a throwback space with a forward-thinking mission—designed to revitalize Portland’s creative energy and bring today’s talent, leaders, and innovators to the surface. This isn’t a space for passive observers. It’s for participants. When you step inside, the expectation is to create, to collaborate, and to shape the city’s creative future—together.
Hangar 13 isn’t just a creative workspace. It’s a project in motion. A place to build something that lasts.
A Creative Calendar Built for Action
Hangar 13 is home to a rotating lineup of events that bring artists and innovators together. These aren’t just gatherings—they’re participatory, immersive experiences that invite creators to engage, build, and contribute.
Regular Programming Includes:
🎨 First Thursday at Hangar 13 – A curated night showcasing art, live performances, and interactive installations that’s true to The Peculiarium ethos.
🎭 A Live Action Sideshow – A blend of performance vaudeville-like art, theater, and spectacle that celebrates the raw, unpredictable energy of live storytelling.
🎬 Actors Tank – A space for actors to train, collaborate, and workshop scenes in a dynamic, supportive environment.
⚡ Spark the Build – A high-energy creative jam session designed to turn passion into action through hands-on collaboration and idea generation.
🎶 Music Events – A rotating lineup of intimate concerts, experimental soundscapes, and live performances that push creative boundaries.
Hangar 13 is a place where artists and creators don’t just gather—they make. It’s a space built for movement, momentum, and meaningful connections in Portland’s creative landscape.
The Vision for Hangar 13
Stepping into the role of Interim Director at Hangar 13 is about more than overseeing a space—it’s about building a creative culture with a clear sense of place. With a background in film directing, marketing, and event organizing, my focus has always been on bringing people together to tell stories, spark ideas, and create experiences that leave a lasting impact. Hangar 13 is an extension of that philosophy: a place that isn’t about gatekeeping or rigid structures, but about giving local creatives the space and freedom to experiment, collaborate, and launch their wild ideas.
At its core, Hangar 13 is driven by ideas and the people bold enough to chase them—not by profits, trends, or playing it safe. It’s a space where the messy, unfiltered process of creation is embraced, where failure is just part of the experiment, and where the creative community itself will inform how the space is shaped and put to use. Rather than dictating what it should be, the vision is to co-build it with the artists, makers, and innovators who step inside.
This isn’t a non-profit space, a passive arts venue or a rigid co-working space—it’s a third space for creatives, a proving ground for those who want to push boundaries rather than fit inside them. Through a lineup of interactive events, hands-on workshops, live performances, and collaborative builds, Hangar 13 is here to light the fuse—to get Portland’s creatives out of their heads and into action. It’s a space where ideas don’t just sit around collecting dust—they get built, tested, and thrown into the wild. Whether it’s turning a half-baked concept into a working prototype, road-testing a performance in front of a live audience, or just pulling the trigger on that thing you’ve been overthinking to death, Hangar 13 is the place to make it real.
Portland has always been a city of outsiders, independent thinkers, and underground innovators. But over time, the spaces that nurtured that spirit have disappeared. Hangar 13 is here to change that. It’s not for spectators. It’s for people who make things happen—for those who believe creativity should be about taking risks, making things with purpose, and leaving behind something real.
And we can’t do it alone. Hangar 13 is looking for volunteers—the builders, doers, and dreamers who want to help shape this space from the ground up. If you love creating, organizing, or just rolling up your sleeves and making things happen, there’s a place for you here. Let’s build something wild, together.