IF ALL GOES according to the plan city council approved last week, a one-of-a-kind green skyscraper will soon loom eight stories over Portland—setting a global example of sustainable building and cementing our fair city as an international hub of green technology.
The Oregon Sustainability Center would be the crown jewel in Portland’s (and Mayor Sam Adams’) quest to make Portland the greenest city in America. But the bold building will require a hefty public investment at a time when local budgets have been cut to the bone.
Its designers plan to incorporate innovative water and energy systems, collecting and reusing storm water from the building’s roof. Altogether, the office and retail building would boast a zero carbon footprint.
But all that experimental designing brings the cost to $75 million. On Wednesday, August 4, Portland City Council unanimously voted to partner with the Oregon University system to build the center, investing up to $14 million from city urban renewal funds and a bond.
The city also promised to lease office space in the center for an estimated $32 million over 10 years (about the same cost as leasing other top-quality new office space in town). The university system will pitch in $49 million and use the building as office and laboratory space.
Mayor Adams promised that the building would create or lure thousands of green jobs to Portland. “This is one of the few organic economic strengths that we have,” he said. “And shame on us if we let others eclipse us.”
Though planners and architects in town are generally enthused about the building, urban planning consultant Don Arambula asks a sharp question: “Is it economically sustainable?” He says innovative buildings financed with public dollars can be useful as trend-setting models for private companies, but that when it comes to the economics of sustainability, there’s a lot designers can do without breaking the bank.
“When we think about buildings, the best way to get immediate results for sustainability is weatherization. That’s not sexy, but it’s better bang for the buck,” says Arambula.
High-profile architecture critic and PortlandArchitecture.com blogger Brian Libby has a similar reaction to the project: Love the innovation, but the city should consider finding a cheaper option for building a sustainability center, like renovating an existing landmark building rather than pouring funds into a new one.
But Portland Development Commission project manager Eric Jacobson says the sustainability center partners are committed to building a high-tech “living” building, rather than doing a green renovation or other cost-cutting alternatives.
“One of our key economic development strategies is to focus on industries where Portland already has a competitive advantage,” says Jacobson.
A final design for the sustainability center will be presented to City Council this winter.
another colossal waste of taxpayer money. this should be privately funded. let’s use public money for infra-structure and education.
“…green skyscraper will soon loom eight stories over Portland…”
great stuff. Where in the world is a skyscraper 8 stories tall people? I also have to disagree with Brian on his plight to redefine the center of sustainability inside a renovated warehouse – just poking a little. Sustainability is all about restoration, and durability of buildings, but get real if you want the high tech world out there (much of it is in Portland) to support the building then you need to create something new, and one of a kind. The back story here is that the city and others are pursuing donations and other means to bring the cost down. This after all is a proto-type building in many ways. The other stuff should happen, but it should not take precedent over the building of a center, especially near and adjacent to the University.
Risk taking. But I guess if it does bring some job attraction then it will be worth it. That’s a big but though.
I have a hard time believing a 8 story building of this caliber will cost *only* 75 million. I imagine after it’s 10% through we’ll discover the real pricetag to be closer to 90-110 million.
There is probably even greater chance to bring the cost down when you think about the opportunity for tech and software industries to use the building to showcase new technology for monitoring and energy creation. The building cost right now is loaded with safety factors to cover discoveries once the building starts design and construction.
This is all fine and good for Portland, but what about the rest of the state. The rural folks will be putting their hard earned money on this too. AND…. will be paying for it forever in the future because public entities will be occupying the space. I am asking our Legislators to look at this one “long and hard” before committing any state money toward it. I agree with others that this should be funded by Portland and their “fund raising” groups. Why does the City of Portland need new space, and same goes for Portland State. The economy being what it is, we should be looking for ways to save money ….not spend it. If it is such a good deal, the private industry will hop right on it…right!?!?!