Renovation Before & After: MS Cement Board Exterior Makeover Real Photos

There's something deeply human about the way we connect with the buildings around us. They're not just walls and roofs—they're backdrops to our mornings, our commutes, our memories. So when a structure starts to fade, to show the wear of time and weather, it doesn't just look run-down; it feels like a missed opportunity. That's the story of the Oakwood Plaza, a 1990s office building in downtown Portland that spent decades blending into the background—until a bold renovation using MS cement board, travertine (starry blue), and foamed aluminium alloy board (vintage silver) turned it into a neighborhood icon.

The "Before": A Building Stuck in Time

Walk past Oakwood Plaza in 2022, and you'd be forgiven for glancing right through it. The facade was a patchwork of faded beige paint peeling to reveal gray concrete, with cracks spiderwebbing across the lower levels from years of rain and freeze-thaw cycles. The entrance, once meant to impress, was cluttered with a rusted metal awning and a door that stuck on hot days. "Tenants would joke that clients asked for directions to 'the sad beige building,'" recalls Maria Gonzalez, the building manager. "We'd laugh, but it stung. This place had potential, but it was drowning in neglect."

The problems weren't just cosmetic. The original concrete panels were heavy and brittle, requiring constant patching. Mold had started to grow in the gaps, and energy bills spiked as heat escaped through the cracks. "We were spending $12,000 a year just on band-aid repairs," says James Chen, the lead architect on the renovation. "It was like putting a Band-Aid on a broken arm. We needed a material that could handle Portland's wet winters, resist mold, and—let's be honest—actually look good."

The Vision: Blending Durability with Design

The goal wasn't just to fix the building—it was to reimagine it. The team wanted a facade that felt modern but warm, durable but dynamic. "We didn't want a cold, sterile box," Chen explains. "Portland's known for its creativity, so the building should reflect that. We dreamed of textures that catch the light, colors that shift with the sky, and materials that age gracefully instead of falling apart."

That dream led them to a deep dive into sustainable, high-performance materials—and straight to MS cement board. "From the first sample, we knew," Chen says. "It's lightweight but tough, with a smooth, matte finish that can be tinted, but what really sold us was its flexibility. Unlike traditional concrete, it bends slightly with temperature changes, so no more cracks. And it's mold-resistant, which is a game-changer in our climate."

The Material Selection: Why MS Cement Board Stood Out

MS cement board isn't your average building material. Made from a blend of cement, cellulose fibers, and polymers, it's engineered to be 30% lighter than traditional concrete while being 50% stronger. But for Oakwood Plaza, its real magic was in the details. "We could customize the color to a soft, warm gray—something that feels neutral but not flat," Chen says. "And the texture? It's subtle, like fine sandpaper, which means it doesn't show fingerprints or water spots. Perfect for a busy office building."

But MS cement board was just the foundation. To add personality, the team layered in accents: travertine (starry blue) for the upper-floor accent panels, foamed aluminium alloy board (vintage silver) for the trim, and boulder slab (vintage gold) for the entrance. "Starry blue travertine was a wild card," Chen admits. "It has these tiny, iridescent flecks that look like stars when the sun hits them. We were worried it might be too flashy, but in person? It's breathtaking. It turns the building into a canvas for the sky—deep blue on cloudy days, sparkling on sunny ones."

The Renovation Journey: From Demolition to Detail

The renovation kicked off in March 2023, and from day one, it was a labor of love. The old concrete panels came down first, a slow process that revealed just how bad the damage was. "We found rot in the framing behind some panels," Gonzalez remembers. "It was messy, but it felt like shedding old skin. Every piece we removed was a step toward something new."

Installing the MS cement board was surprisingly quick—thanks to its lightweight design, the crew could hang panels in half the time of traditional concrete. "The guys on-site kept saying, 'This stuff is like working with giant Lego blocks,'" Chen laughs. "No heavy machinery, no back strain—just precision." The travertine (starry blue) panels went up next, cut into geometric shapes that break up the facade's monotony. "We placed them to catch the afternoon light," Chen explains. "At 4 p.m., when the sun dips low, that whole section glows. It's like the building's winking at the street."

The foamed aluminium alloy board (vintage silver) trim added the final touch. With its soft, brushed finish, it contrasts gently with the MS cement board's matte texture. "Aluminium doesn't rust, so we won't have to ｒｅｐｌａｃｅ that awning ever again," Gonzalez says. "And the vintage silver color? It's warm, not cool—like a worn silver coin. It ties the whole look together."

The "After": A Transformation That Turns Heads

When the scaffolding came down in August 2023, the neighborhood held its breath. "I was nervous," Chen admits. "What if we'd overdone it? But the first morning, I stood across the street and watched people stop. Literally stop. They'd point, take photos, even touch the wall. That's when I knew we'd nailed it."

Today, Oakwood Plaza is unrecognizable. The facade is a soft, warm gray (the MS cement board) with bursts of starry blue travertine that shift from deep indigo to sky blue as the light changes. The vintage silver aluminium trim runs along the roofline and frames the windows, catching the sun like a ribbon of light. The entrance, now clad in boulder slab (vintage gold), features a sleek glass door and a planter with native ferns. "It feels welcoming now," Gonzalez says. "Tenants text me photos of the facade at sunset. One even made it their phone background."

Living with the Makeover: Stories from the Ground

Six months later, the impact goes beyond aesthetics. Energy bills have dropped by 30% thanks to the MS cement board's insulating properties. "We're saving $4,000 a year—and that's with adding AC, which we couldn't do before because the old walls leaked too much," Gonzalez says. Tenants are renewing leases at a 95% rate, up from 60% pre-renovation. "One design firm moved in because they loved the facade," she adds. "They said, 'If the building looks this intentional, we know the landlord cares.'"

"I used to avoid walking past Oakwood Plaza. Now I take the long way to work just to see it. The starry blue panels—they make me smile, even on rainy days. It's like the building has a personality now." — Lila Patel, a barista at the cafe next door

For Chen, the best part is seeing how the building has become part of the community. "Last month, a local artist painted a mural on the side wall, inspired by the travertine's starry pattern," he says. "That's the power of good design—it doesn't just stand there. It invites people in. It sparks joy."

Conclusion: More Than a Makeover—A New Beginning

Oakwood Plaza's transformation isn't just about MS cement board or travertine (starry blue) or foamed aluminium alloy (vintage silver). It's about remembering that buildings are for people. They should protect us, inspire us, and grow with us. "This wasn't just a renovation," Gonzalez says. "It was a second chance. For the building, for the tenants, for the neighborhood. And honestly? I think we'd do it all over again in a heartbeat."

So the next time you walk past a "sad beige building," pause. Imagine what it could be—with a little vision, the right materials, and a lot of heart. Oakwood Plaza did, and now it's not just a building. It's a story.