New and used book store giant Powell’s Books has been going through some changes lately that will not only benefit the environment, but will also offer loyal customers a little more modern sight when walking through the store’s front doors.
Most recently Powell’s has installed a new solar panel system on the roof of their warehouse in Northwest Portland. The building mostly serves their online division, www.powells.com, but it also houses administrative and marketing offices for the company.
“It was sort of prompted by the fact that the tax credit for putting in solar systems in Oregon was about to expire, and [owner] Michael Powell was interested in the proposal he saw and decided the time was now,” said Kim Sutton, Powell’s corporate marketing manager.
According to a Powell’s press release, when the solar panels, a 100-kilowatt photovoltaic system, are active, they will help reduce the facility’s consumption of energy by a quarter every year. The 540 solar panels will cover the 60,000 square foot roof of the warehouse off of Northwest 29th Avenue.
The installation was contracted by Energy Design Co., an electrical contracting company based out of Eugene, Ore., and is one of the largest in the state of Oregon.
But the new solar panels are not Powell’s only new development. Portland could soon be seeing a new face on the building many have come to know and love on the corner of Burnside and Tenth Avenue.
The building that currently occupies the southeast corner of Powell’s mega bookstore may be replaced by a new three-story structure. The project is currently in the planning stage, and has been submitted to the city for a pre-application conference.
The Powell’s bookstore off Burnside sits on an entire block, and consists of four separate buildings that have been connected over time. The current plan would call for the building on the southeast quarter of the block, with the well-known big Powell’s white and red sign, to be taken down rather than used in the new construction.
Both projects reflect a green initiative Powell’s has incorporated into their business practices. The company makes use of a green committee comprised of various Powell’s employees who bring information to managers regarding impending decisions.
“Pretty much any decision we make, the green options are always looked at,” Sutton said. “I know that it is part of the plans of the Burnside store to use rainwater collection, and have a green roof.”
Both projects have seen the involvement of local Portland architect Ernest Munch, who shares a close relationship with Powell’s and its architectural projects. Munch consulted on the installation of the solar panels for the warehouse, and is designing the new three-story Powell’s building currently under review.
“We’ve done some drawings and we a have a scheme … and we’ve talked to the city about various code issues.” Munch said. “There is also a thought on putting a solar array on the northeast part of the quarter block.”
However, both Munch and Sutton noted the difficulty to place solar panels on the Burnside store due to the limited light for that store surrounded by city high rises.
A final decision made on placing the solar panels on the Burnside store should be made shortly after the New Year.
“The economic downturn is going to figure into the planning of this building,” Munch said. “In January, they are going to make some sort of decision.”