Port of Portland Headquarters Demonstrates Pioneering Green Strategies Without Sacrificing Design

The Port of Portland recently consolidated their headquarters into a green office building designed by Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects (ZGF). Situated right next to the PDX airport, the new Port of Portland Headquarters is a LEED gold office that unifies the entity responsible for Portland's airport, shipping terminals and more. The project was finished in May of 2010 and it includes a green roof, a living machine to process waste water, geothermal heating and cooling, plus a plethora of other sustainable strategies.

The 10-story building was inspired by the form of an airplane hull, and it sits right in front of the PDX main terminal on top of a new parking structure. The consolidation of the Port of Portland’s offices and employees will place about 230 people into the new building in hopes of improving work efficiency and created a unified front. The office floor plan is open to encourage collaboration and a more unified organizational culture. The use of natural daylighting and smart lighting controls creates a more agreeable work environment for the employees.

The 9th floor of the building features an eco roof that collects rainwater and minimizes stormwater runoff, and a green roof planted with drought tolerant plants is located on the other side of the building. Two hundred geothermal wells provide ground source heating and cooling, and an auxiliary cooling tower kicks in for peak periods. A reflective roof membrane, high-performance glazing, and energy-efficient lighting minimize energy demand for the building. Additionally, a Living Machine processes all of the building’s waste water from toilets, sinks and showers for reuse in toilet flushing and the HVAC cooling tower.

[via Inhabitat]