There are a couple things that we know to be true:

1) We preserve the things we love.

2) A well-designed and well-constructed building that meets real human needs will stand the test of time.

At GBD, this means that we put careful thought into details around durability and quality design solutions to ensure building longevity, and therefore sustainability. The National Trust for Historic Preservation recently interviewed Director Phil Beyl for an article about the historic renovation of the Meier & Frank Delivery Depot. 

Originally built in 1928, the redevelopment demonstrates that highly aggressive sustainability goals can be met within conventionally-financed and market-driven projects. Completed in May 2012, the redeveloped Meier & Frank Delivery Depot is now U.S. headquarters to one of the world’s largest wind turbine developers, Vestas. Our team added a penthouse to the existing roof for a total of five stories in the LEED Platinum building. The roof is covered with a photovoltaic array (one of the largest in Portland’s downtown core) and includes an eco-roof and outdoor gathering space. Levels one, three, four and five house approximately 130,000 sq. feet of commercial office space; level two is devoted to parking.

At every step, we made sure to protect the original integrity of this charming building; it remains on the National Register of Historic Places and is a shining example of what’s possible in modern redevelopment.

Last year, after tracking years of actual performance data, the Meier & Frank building earned the International Living Future Institute’s Reveal Label – establishing itself among the top 1% of buildings in the nation for annual energy performance!

To learn more about the process for transforming this historic treasure into one of the nation’s best energy performers, read the full article here.