CITY OF PORTLAND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES CENTER

A Public/Private Partnership Benefits Portland and PSU

The redevelopment of the former US West office and data center into the City of Portland Development Services Center is an example of what can be accomplished when public and private entities partner. The original development of this call and data center for PacificCorp and US West was a nine-month renovation that included six different tenants. Seventy-five percent of the building and its critical operations center is located below ground.

PSU was interested in the building as a potential location for its engineering school, but couldn’t occupy the entire building. The City of Portland was looking for a place to locate its development center. A number of private tenants were also interested in the site.

Working together we found an innovative solution that met the needs of Portland State University, the City of Portland and the Portland Development Commission within the scope of the Neighborhood District Plan. Our solution integrated city offices, PSU’s original engineering school and private tenants.

To reduce costs and energy consumption, specific building innovations include a raised floor plenum with a displacement air distribution system and gives each occupant the ability to control the location and amount of air.