Portland Water Bureau Buildings Awarded Two LEED Gold Certifications

PORTLAND, OR – The Portland Water Bureau on Tuesday announced it was awarded recently for the eco-friendly, sustainable design of two new water facility buildings in North Portland.

For the improved Interstate Maintenance Facility and the Shops, Stores and Warehouse building, both located at 664 N. Tillamook St., the United States Green Building Council awarded two Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certifications –– which indicates the facilities’ redesigns are resource efficient, using less water and energy, and producing fewer emissions harmful to the environment.

The redesigned buildings were unveiled in June 2015 after the $50 million renovations.

"LEED certification identifies the Water Bureau's Interstate Facility as a showcase example of sustainability and demonstrates (the bureau’s) leadership in transforming the building industry," Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO of the Green Building Council, said in a statement. "Buildings that achieve LEED certification are lowering carbon emissions, creating a healthier environment, and reducing operating costs while prioritizing sustainable practices."

The facilities also meet the city’s Green Building Policy –– which has offered guidance for how buildings in Portland should be designed and built since 2000 –– and included seismic upgrades to defend against any massive earthquakes in the region.

"Attaining LEED certification supports one the Water Bureau's most important strategic objectives –– incorporating sustainability into the bureau's everyday work," said Portland Water Bureau Administrator Mike Stuhr. "Also, constructing these new facilities to withstand catastrophic events, such as earthquakes, is another example of the resilience work we do to protect Portland's water infrastructure. I couldn’t be more pleased with this recognition from the United States Green Building Council."

According to water bureau spokeswoman Jaymee Cuti, the Interstate Maintenance Facility is the central maintenance, construction and operations facility for supplying drinking water to the metro area. Employing roughly 320 people, the maintenance building is used as office and meeting space for construction and maintenance management, the water quality group, system analysis group, meter readers, and inspectors and administrative staff, Cuti told Patch in an email Tuesday.

The Shops, Stores and Warehouse building, Cuti said, is where all parts and materials are kept for water system construction and repairs. The carpenter and machine shops that support the field crews who perform this work are also housed here, as is the auditorium where the field crews assemble each morning to receive and plan the day’s work assignments.

To earn its LEED Gold certifications, the bureau asked six different architecture, construction, and engineering firms to incorporate solar arrays, eco roofs, and resource efficient designs into its new facilities, officials said. For the collective teams’ efforts, the two redesigned buildings are expected to see a 30 percent reduction in energy expenses.

Photo Courtesy: Portland Water Bureau