Portland Sustainability Center for Environmental Stewardship
What: What makes Portlanders so unique? We love the outdoors and with that respect for our environment comes a self-appointed stewardship that is unique to the Pacific Northwest. Portland is setting itself up to become a champion of green technologies and sustainable development. My thesis project is to revisit the concept of an Oregon Sustainability Center along the Loyd District waterfront. The project program will bring together the city of Portland, visitors, public leaders of the sustainability movement, and private research and sustainability innovation companies. It will include classroom, conference, research and exhibit space, and will showcase innovation in sustainability, and green building technologies.
Who: Due to its central location, abundant public transportation, and proximity to major automobile arterials, the site has the potential to serve most of central city Portland. Ideally the program would act as an attractor to contribute to a 24-hour feel that is currently missing from the Loyd District. The overall site development will attract different groups. The sustainability center will attract visitors and will house various private green tech development companies. The housing would serve the Loyd District. And the fitness center would also serve the immediate vicinity as well as sports enthusiasts going along with the district of sports identity already present in the region.
Where: Along the waterfront between the Broadway and Steel bridges, currently referred to the Thunderbird site. City Rivers present some of the most challenging environments for stream restoration projects. Dense urban developments have stripped waterways of their natural riparian habitats. River channelization is a classic example of a human intervention that has major negative ecological consequences for the aquatic biota in the river channel, substantially degrading the structural diversity and wildlife resources of the riparian habitat.
Program elements:
Site development:
Housing: FAR 9:1 / 250 dwelling units / 325 height / 550,000 sf
Fitness center: 40,000
Retail: 20,000
Sustainability Center:
Oregon Sustainability Center 180,000 sf