How Portland has set the standard for making public restrooms more accessible across a metro area.
Various spots throughout the Portland Metro (23+)
Downtown corridors, city parks, waterfronts
Local residents, tourists, park guests, houseless individuals
2008-present
Lack of public restrooms and concerns around hygiene, safety, and accessibility
A public restroom collaboratively designed to be durable, secure, and easy to maintain
Portland did not set out to follow a model for public restrooms. It built one from the ground up. In the mid-2000s, city leaders, local fabricators, and Portland State University students came together to rethink what a public toilet could be and how it could function in a modern urban environment. What emerged was a simple, durable structure designed through collaboration across city departments, engineers, and community stakeholders, each contributing ideas that shaped the final design.
The first Portland Loo® was installed in 2008 in Old Town Chinatown as a pilot, but it quickly proved to be more than a one-off solution. It became part of the city’s infrastructure and identity, expanding into parks, downtown corridors, and neighborhood spaces across Portland. Today, with more than 20 installations and ongoing plans for expansion, the Portland Loo® stands as a city-built solution that continues to evolve while serving a wide range of daily users.
What started as a local response has grown into a widely recognized model, showing how one city’s approach can influence public space design far beyond its city limits.
The city of Portland faced a growing need for safe, accessible, and durable public restrooms to serve high-traffic urban areas, including downtown corridors and city parks. Existing options, including traditional restroom facilities and portable toilets that require emptying, proved costly to maintain and vulnerable to vandalism. Areas such as Old Town Chinatown highlighted the urgency. This area had high pedestrian activity, public safety concerns, and limited sanitation infrastructure. Project leaders recognized the importance of providing restroom access that served everyone, including residents, tourists, and people experiencing houselessness. They wanted to find a solution that would not sacrifice cleanliness, safety, or long-term sustainability.
In response, the City of Portland, in partnership with Madden Fabrication, developed the Portland Loo® to be a purpose-built public restroom designed specifically to address these urban challenges. Championing a design that prioritizes durability, visibility, and ease of maintenance, the Loo introduced a stainless steel, vandal-resistant structure that could be deployed efficiently across a variety of locations. Its standardized design allowed the city to scale installations over time, expanding from a single unit in 2008 to a network of 23 (and counting) Loos serving neighborhoods citywide. By replacing the need for temporary portable restrooms and offering a consistent, reliable sanitation solution, the Portland Loo became a long-term investment in public health, safety, and accessibility.
The Portland Loo® is easy to maintain and vandal-resistant, making it an extremely durable, long-lasting public restroom solution.
The city of Portland has scaled to more than 20 Loos in 2008. It serves all demographics, offering privacy and cleanliness on the go.
From busy urban corridors, to community parks, to waterfront running paths, the City of Portland has adapted the Loo for multiple environments.
Our prefabricated restrooms are ideal for many types of environments, including:
Waterfronts and promenades
Downtown corridors and civic centers
High-traffic tourism areas
Ready to solve your city’s public restroom challenges? Let’s discuss how The Portland Loo® can work in your community.
Interchangeable components
The Portland Loo® is built to fully comply with ADA Standards.
WHY IS THE LOO BETTER THAN ‘AUTOMATED’ ALTERNATIVES?
Automated restrooms prioritize privacy but often compromise safety, durability, and comfort. The Portland Loo® is uniquely designed to balance user privacy with public safety, ensuring a clean, safe, and accommodating restroom experience. Its minimal design also lowers maintenance costs compared to more complex automated alternatives.
Interchangeable components
Made with commonly used components, upgrading or replacing pieces of The Portland Loo® is easy.
CAN THE LOO COME IN CUSTOM COLORS?
Yes, the Loo can be customized in a range of colors to match your city’s unique needs and aesthetic. The standard gray color includes anti-graffiti properties, allowing graffiti to be easily removed from the unit.
Discourages crime
The restroom was designed with Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design by using high traffic areas and visibility to deter illegal activities and generate high usage rates.
HOW DOES THE LOO HELP REDUCE INAPPROPRIATE USE, SUCH AS PROSTITUTION OR DRUGS USE?
Angled louvers on the top and bottom of the restroom provide limited lines of sight for public officials to detect inappropriate use. Installing the Loo in areas designed with Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles can enhance this feature’s effectiveness.
Anti-graffiti walls
Protected with an anti-graffiti powder-coat, the restroom can take a lot of abuse, and is easy to maintain with a cleaning hose and janitorial supplies stored in the mechanical closet.
HOW LONG CAN I EXPECT THE LOO TO LAST?
Constructed from highly durable stainless steel and designed to resist vandalism, the Loo is built to last for decades with proper maintenance.
Open safety-grating
These open grates provide excellent visibility, allowing for easy monitoring while maintaining user privacy.
HOW DOES THE LOO HELP REDUCE INAPPROPRIATE USE, SUCH AS PROSTITUTION OR DRUGS USE?
Angled louvers on the top and bottom of the restroom provide limited lines of sight for public officials to detect inappropriate use. Installing the Loo in areas designed with Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles can enhance this feature’s effectiveness.
