91视频

Prime Consultant: PAE Consulting Engineers
Owner: Port of Portland
Other consultants: Zimmer Gunsul Frasca, HNTB, Hoffman Construction

The Port of Portland has become a master of collaboration, melding a variety of roles – from manager of aviation and marine ventures to developer of real estate projects – into one successful agency. So it came as no surprise that the port’s new headquarters building pays tribute to the concept of collaboration.

From the approach the project team used to design and construct the 10-story building and an accompanying 3,500 space parking garage to the way the structure’s features mesh into a project worthy of one of the highest green-building ratings in the world, the port’s project caught widespread attention. Forbes.com, for example, named the headquarters building one of the most high-tech green buildings in the world.

One of the crowning glories of the building is the building’s Living Machine, a system that uses plants and microorganisms to clean by natural processes all of the wastewater generated in the building. The recovered water is then used for flushing toilets, irrigation and evaporative cooling.

Another unique aspect of the project is the innovative HVAC system. Created by PAE Consulting Engineers as the project’s mechanical and electrical consultant, the system uses a ground loop layout for collecting energy coupled with system of radiant panels that handles heating and cooling.

The firm and its division Luma Lighting Design also worked closely with other design team members to optimize lighting and daylighting.

The port estimates that PAE’s efforts will result in the headquarters building using 36 percent less energy than it would have with a more traditional HVAC system. The garage could use as much as 78 percent less energy than one of a similar size with a standard HVAC design.