Portlanders choose to live in the city for various reasons: to be closer to work, school, cultural attractions and, increasingly, to become part of the sustainable lifestyle.
The latter reason is being pushed for by Gerding Edlen Development, a company known for its sustainable buildings in Portland and along the West Coast.
Portlanders choose to live in the city for various reasons: to be closer to work, school, cultural attractions and, increasingly, to become part of the sustainable lifestyle.
The latter reason is being pushed for by Gerding Edlen Development, a company known for its sustainable buildings in Portland and along the West Coast.
At Portland State, Gerding Edlen is the company behind the Masseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science, another LEED building, and the Broadway Housing Building
Gerding Edlen is also behind the upcoming Oregon Sustainability Center, which will be the world’s first living building, and will create its own energy and recycle its own waste.
One of Gerding Edlen’s buildings is CYAN PDX. Located at 1720 S.W. Fourth Ave., CYAN PDX is a high-rise apartment building that seeks to incorporate a sustainable lifestyle with all of the downtown amenities a city-dweller would enjoy.
Part of the benefit packet that comes with the lease of one of the building’s 354 apartments, is a $20 Portland Farmers’ Market token and a $25 Zipcar membership to help residents get their start in the sustainable game.
The purpose, said Damin Tarlow, project manager for CYAN, is to facilitate a more progressive lifestyle and encourage residents to try out different things that suit their needs.
“We call it 20-minute living. Everything you would want [you can get] in 20 minutes,” Tarlow said. “We’re interested in place making.”
Located near the streetcar line and one block away from the new MAX line, CYAN residents can travel freely within the city. Tarlow said residents really have no need for a car.
According to Tarlow, the name “CYAN” represents a new direction for sustainable living.
“CYAN is a blue movement. If you look at the earth, it’s a blue color—it’s not green—so it’s the evolution of the environmental movement,” Tarlow said.
That evolution, explains Tarlow, begins with small changes, not a big leap.
One of those small changes that Tarlow was eager to point out is the refrigerator unit in each apartment. The units have special drawers to stop cool air from escaping every time the door is opened.
Other “green” features of the building include an eco-roof, dual-flush toilets, a community garden and a storm water drain which uses rain water to irrigate the garden.
And all the little things are adding up to make a big difference.
Gerding Edlen is expecting to receive a Gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, the second highest rating in sustainable building from the U.S. Green Building Council.
No stranger to LEED buildings, Tarlow said Gerding Edlen have five Platinum-certified buildings, the highest LEED rating.
“We started doing sustainable design before LEED was even a system. Fifteen years ago we couldn’t get Wall Street investors, we had to go to local investors, because Portland understood it at the time,” Tarlow said. ” Every building we do is highly sustainable—it’s part of our DNA.”
In terms of aesthetics, CYAN PDX was a joint venture between two architectural firms, one of which created the unique weaving exterior façade. Inside, the main lobby features artwork from the Pacific Northwest College of Art and an inviting seating area for guests as well as an entertainment lounge for residents.
To create a cosmopolitan feel, each floor is named after a city, such as Amsterdam.
One of the model apartments is a one-bedroom with 525 square feet—the smallest size apartment available—priced at about $995 per month. It had a panoramic view of Portland State and the city and integrated appliances including bamboo cabinets and a refrigerator.
Tenants also receive access to an in-house gym, which offers one free session with a fitness trainer, and other amenities, such as taxi credits and access to an outdoor barbeque grill and playing field.
According to Tarlow, the biggest unit features 1,100 square feet with three bedrooms for about $2,500 per month. All units are pet friendly.
“When everyone stops talking about ‘sustainability’ as being new and different, that’s when we know it’s changed,” Tarlow said. “I will be happy if we stop talking about green building and instead see it as the only way to do things.”
