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Established firms and gritty startups alike are attracted to office space in a historic, downtown Eugene building renovated recently.

The $11 million project restored some of architect A.E. Doyle’s design from 1927, but the new office spaces within the Broadway Commerce Center intentionally retain a 鈥渄o-it-yourself鈥� atmosphere.

, the renovated building’s first tenant, invested approximately $1 million to customize 8,500 square feet of the third floor. But other companies that have signed letters of intent may simply add some desks and chairs.

鈥淚t’s definitely a new product for Eugene,鈥� said Pete Eggspuehler, head of real estate development for . 鈥淧eople kind of have to get used to it, but when they see it 鈥� they love it.鈥�

Brad Malsin, a Beam co-founder and principal, described the occupancy plan as 鈥渕enu driven鈥� 鈥� similar to what the firm did with its renovation of the historic Olympic Mills Commerce Center in Portland into mixed-use, creative office and flex space.

Unlike Olympic Mills, though, the Broadway Commerce Center did not qualify for the National Register of Historic Places because of damage sustained by the building’s skin during previous redevelopments.

鈥淲e tried very hard to bring back the original feel, both of the exterior and interior, but the original part of the skin was so invaded and intruded upon that we had to peel it off,鈥� Malsin said. 鈥淚t still has historic significance, but didn’t qualify for the historic register.鈥�

While designed a renovation that would echo the building’s original appearance, Beam also is encouraging incoming tenants to come in and 鈥減ut your fingerprints on the space and make it your own,鈥� Malsin said.

Leases start at $1.50 per square foot, but can vary based on the desired finishes. So far, interested parties have chosen a wide range of budgets and improvement projects, according to Malsin.

鈥淵ou can load it up or dress it down, and we can give you a price tailor-made to your budget,鈥� he said. 鈥淧ivot came in and put a huge (tenant improvement) budget in, and other people will come and throw in a desk and computer terminals and almost nothing else.鈥�

Pivot’s design required a year of work from a five-person team. The firm has operated out of its new, open office space for a couple of weeks, and principal-in-charge Toby Barwood said the new space is 鈥渂asically awesome.鈥�

鈥淲e used to be 鈥榮iloed’ into individual spaces with lots of divisions,鈥� he said.

Pivot, which has 22 employees, for 15 years operated from offices in the neighboring Washburne Building, another Beam property.

鈥淣ow we’re in one big space and have a much more varied way of collaborating 鈥� the communication between project team members is just way superior,鈥� Barwood said.

Pivot’s work contrasts with the plans of future tenant Code Chops, which will create a co-working space for technology-focused freelancers. Code Chops is finalizing a lease in the building, but its spatial plans are comparatively sparse. In addition to approximately 700 square feet of space, Code Chops’ office needs are listed on its website as a coffee machine and 鈥渕ore power strips.鈥�

Beam also is finalizing leases with Rabbit Bistro, Eugene Magazine and reports having letters of intent with other companies that they are not yet willing to name. Approximately 15,000 square feet of space is still available, and Malsin said interest is significant enough that Beam is choosing between parties based on their potential contribution to the building community.

鈥淲e’re committed to work with small startups that may be less creditworthy or at an early stage of business development,鈥� Malsin said. 鈥淚 mean, we still want to see a plan and understand what they’re doing, but we’re much more flexible with getting them in and working with them.鈥�

The Broadway Commerce Center, formerly called the Center Court Building, is one of three major renovation efforts under way in downtown Eugene. Next door, is building a five-story, 50,000-square-foot office building developed by And just one block west, is working on a new housing complex for Lane Community College.

鈥淚’m sure it’s been frustrating to be walking through all of the construction going on,鈥� Eggspuehler said. 鈥淏ut Eugene languished kind of late and we’re happy to see some attention being paid to it. We’re trying to look for our next project downtown 鈥� there’s still work to be done and we want to keep going.鈥�