Office Space News
Portland Coworking Project Highlights Sustainable Development
Published May 27th, 2009 by Jennifer LeClaire
Mixed-use developments are a dime a dozen these days, but The Leftbank Project is giving new life to the concept with office spaces that take sustainability to heart.
After sitting vacant for more than a decade, a once vibrant cultural magnet at the head of the Broadway Bridge is once again attracting a rich cross section of people as part of an unconventional new mixed-use development in Portland.
Leftbank’s more than 50,000 square feet of leasable office space includes individual offices in the Hive, a 22-desk co-working community with shared meeting space, traditional offices with city views, move-in ready creative studio spaces, and light production areas.
Leftbank has attracted a diverse tenant base, including Portland Farmers Market, Upright Brewing, The GreenVille Project, gallopowell, ORANGEWALL studios, JHL design, intelligent design, SOLIDCORE and Upstream Public Health.
“Each tenant we meet has such an interesting story,” says Ann Forsthoefel, Portland Farmers Market executive director. “We all come from diverse backgrounds, but share a common bond to make it a better world.”
Coworking from the Rubble
The story begins with Alora Development’s decision not to demolish this trio of abandoned structures. Built in 1923, the main structure of Leftbank was designed by one of Portland’s most renowned architects, A.E. Doyle, to house the Hazelwood Creamery, a confection company and a restaurant. Doyle also designed the city’s Central Library, the Benson Hotel, Reed College campus buildings and many other local landmarks.
By the 1940s, the space was an artistic hub attracting revelers from all corners of the city to The Dude Ranch, the hottest jazz club of its time, which hosted such favorites as Thelonius Monk, Louis Armstrong and Lester Young, among others.
Instead of demolishing the buildings, Alora employed a new model of sustainable development that emphasized restoration, significant material reuse and community building through design. As Alora describes it, this triple bottom line approach involved an collaboration between the developer, architect, designer and craftspeople that has infused the space with both a physical and spiritual sense of community.
Deconstruction techniques allowed the highest possible reuse of existing materials. Windows were salvaged, water damaged beams were milled into stair treads and benches, original details were uncovered and restored, old growth ceiling beams exposed, floors were salvaged, and new floors were crafted from old floor boards. When new systems were necessary, the most efficient systems were installed including a super high efficiency zoned HVAC system and ultra-efficient LED lights. Sustainable hardware, fixtures and other elements were provided by local artisans.
“We’re building a community where mission-driven people from a broad spectrum of disciplines and interests can come together, collaborate, work and contribute,” says Leftbank Project Manager Joanna Agee. “Our hope is to serve as a catalyst for positive change.”
A Look at the Hive
Leftbank is about work and about community. As the developers see it, bees do that like nobody’s business. Taking a cue from the bee, the developers built a hive to host thoughtful, practical work spaces. For many businesses and groups, ideal workspace is a rentable private office. For others, a place to land, reliable office amenities, and the inspiring buzz of collective work is a better fit. This is the model for the hive.
The hive is at the heart of Leftbank, a few steps from the lobby and the café, but contained as its own place. Hive membership begins with a six month agreement and includes a desk, a lockable filing cabinet, a coat locker, and access to the kitchenette, the copy/print room, and two reservable private conference rooms. Membership is less than $500 per month.
At the heart of Leftbank is the Leftbank Café. It opens June 1 in the building’s living room-type lobby in partnership with the award-winning Bon Appetit Management. The Café will serve a menu of breakfast and lunch items made from sustainable and locally sourced ingredients. Other building amenities include an abundance of community gathering spaces, shower facilities, ample bike parking, a lactation room and easy access to mass transit.
To further foster community and exchange, developers are renovating a 20,000 square foot warehouse adjacent to Leftbank at 101 N. Weidler that is open to Leftbank tenants and Portland at large. The versatile event space fills a void for mid-sized event venues, offering an industrial interior that provides a blank canvas for events. The space will be available for event rental this fall.
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Maggie Correta May 27th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
Wow. What a neat story. This is really delivering what people want: a variety of office space types under one roof. I bet the coworking facility is going to be a huge success in this setting. Entrepreneurs have the best of all worlds at this sustainable building complex… coworking that could lead to private offices or other arrangements.
Elizabeth Sanchez May 27th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
I like the concept of the hive. The developers really seem to have put some thought into this office space arrangement. I wonder how they figured on 22 coworking spaces, etc. This sort of mixed-use office complex set up also spreads the risk because some folks still do want private offices, some want studio spaces, etc. I am not surprised that we’d see this sort of thing in Portland.
Marcus Hester May 27th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Come together. Collaborate. Work. Contribute. Those four key words stuck out to me in this story. It looks like this Portland mixed-use office space is drawing from a group of people who have the same sorts of beliefs, even if they need a different type of office space. I think this a great move by the office developers, clearly appreciated by its target audience.
Melanie Jones May 27th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
With this whole green movement going on, this Portland office complex is bound to find people who appreciate it. I love it when they salvage old buildings, and I am sure the local community does too. I also love the imagination behind this office space. There really does seem to be something for everybody at Leftbank.
Bill Brookshire May 27th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
This office complex really takes community seriously. The fact that they are building a concert venue is remarkable. $500 a month for a coworking facility seems a little pricey, but I am not sure what the going rates are for office rentals in Portland. I am guessing there is a bit of a premium because this is such a unique office development.