Online exclusive: Oregon Sustainability Center moving forward

The Oregon Sustainability Center, which is slated to be a zero-emissions building, recently passed the feasibility stage, proving to engineers that a building of its magnitude could actually be constructed. It is now moving towards its design phase.

This new step prompted the OSC’s board to conduct an open house in January that allowed people throughout the community to come and participate in selecting the different design elements. Professionals and the public alike attended the forum, during which they viewed various schematic designs.

According to Andrea Durbin, who is on the OSC board, the open house was very productive.

 “We wanted to make sure some public and community groups could get input, different stations were set up,” Durbin said. “This project is meant to be a community involvement.”

This type of involvement isn’t customary for building projects, but the center, which will be located on SW 4th and Harrison, is designed to be a complete spectrum of Oregon involvement.

“One third [of the building] is dedicated to higher education, one third is public and the other third is private nonprofit,” Durbin said.

The higher education aspect will consist of space for Portland State classrooms, as well as Oregon State’s urban extension program and its climate change research facilities. A lecture hall expected to seat 400 people is also in the works.

The OSC already has 130,000 square feet committed to different businesses and research facilities, and there is an additional 20,000 square feet available.

Only eight buildings like this across the country are registered with the department of energy, and the center looks to become the first of its kind, according to Durbin.

“Of the eight registered, there are none taller than two stories. This is going to be eight to 10,” she said. “That is a big deal.”

The businesses and classrooms that are being housed in the center will participate in researching how well the goal of zero emissions is being implemented. Lisa Abouf, a central city manager for the Portland Development Commission, sees tenant engagement as a big part of pursuing zero emissions.

“We will get to see some of our best practices and policies in sustainability,” Abouf said. “The idea is to push green building into the next generation.”

The OSC has a $6.7 million budget and expects to break ground next year. But before then, all those involved in the project will have to vote on the proposal.