Mazamas

Rent the MMC!

After over one hundred years of renting various locations in the Portland area, the Mazamas have committed to owning a permanent home at SE 43rd and Stark.

This commitment is the culmination of several years of consideration and search. At the initial request of then President Chris Mackert and Executive Director Keith Mischke, committee chairs came together to identify our needs for the next hundred years, and a search committee reviewed over one hundred potential properties.  Both Mazamas Council and Mazamas Foundation worked together to secure the interim financing to enable us to run a 5-year capital campaign to fund the purchase and remodel.

The previous Mt. Hood Masonic Lodge at SE 43rd and Stark was selected as the perfect mix of location, off-street parking, and potential in the existing building.

The Mazamas Mountaineering Center will become much more than a replacement of the existing Mazamas Office.  As our permanent headquarters, it will enable us to fulfill our role as the region’s premier mountaineering organization, and to share our love of the alpine world with our community.

Key features include:

• Space for our numerous committee meetings, education and activity programs
• Storage, display and research space for the extensive library, museum and historical archives
• Neighborhood visibility to further the outreach of our programs to our community
• Space to provide for the use by like-minded non-profits and collaboration
• On-site parking, street level visibility and ADA access to ensure our inclusive welcome to the community
• Large Auditorium for first aid training, cultural & scientific presentations
• Modern office facilities, including appropriate internet and computer connectivity

History of Mazama offices

• 1914 - first meeting and office space at American Bank Building, Portland
• 1919 - move to Chamber of Commerce Bldg., SW Third Avenue
• 1926 - move to Pacific Building, at SW 5th & Yamhill Street
• 1957 - move to NW 19th & Kearney
• 1978 - remodel to improve layout
• 1999 - added 1st floor and ‘annex’ space
• 2002 - new owner purchases NW 19th & Kearney
• 2005 - purchase of the old Mt. Hood Masonic Lodge at SE 43rd and Stark
• 2006 - remodeling begins to create the Mazama Mountaineering Center
• 2007 - move into the new Mazama Mountaineering Center, or MMC

 Rental Information for the MMC, Auditorium and Conference Rooms
The Mazama Mountaineering Center (MMC), located at 517 S.E. 43rd, Portland, OR, 97215, is in a residential neighborhood in southeast Portland between Mt. Tabor and Laurelhurst Park.  It is a 10,000 square foot facility with four meeting rooms and Holman Auditorium.  The MMC is wheelchair accessible and has a lift from the main floor to the lower level. A parking lot is adjacent to the building with 35 spaces.

The main level of the MMC includes a spacious lobby, Mazamas offices, restrooms and the Benjamin F. Holman Auditorium which seats up to 175 people.  The set-up for the auditorium is flexible and can include tables or chairs in theater-style seating.  The auditorium floor has a fir floor and beautiful stain-glass windows. Restrooms are just outside the auditorium doors. Three carpeted meeting rooms of various sizes are on the mezzanine level with one large meeting room on the lower level near the kitchen and additional restrooms.

Being in a residential neighborhood, the MMC functions under a Conditional Use Permit from the City of Portland.  This permit prohibits the use of the building by groups before 7:00 a.m. and after 11:00 p.m. and ambient noise must be kept to a minimum.  Members and Licensees are required to encourage walking, carpooling and alternative transportation to the MMC as parking on the streets adjacent to the MMC must be kept to a minimum.  Groups of over 50 must arrange separate off-street parking with other facilities in the neighborhood.  Attendees must first utilize the parking lot before using on-street park. The number of large groups over 80 people is limited to 35 times per year.

If you or your organization is interested in renting the MMC here are the documents you’ll need to review:


General Information on the Mazama Mountaineering Center
Rental Policy for the Mazama Mountaineering Center
Rental Application for the Mazama Mountaineering Center
Rental Agreement for the Mazama Mountaineering Center