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The Hudson Building may be the first new office building to rise in downtown Vancouver, Washington, in years. But city officials say the project already is spurring more construction in the area.

With completion expected by the end of the year, the three-story, 45,000-square-foot building at East Sixth and Main streets already is more than half leased out.聽 Killian Pacific, the developer of the building that original was called the 101 Building, and project architect Mackenzie plan to move their Vancouver offices into structure, as does Pacific Continental Bank.

While the Hudson’s downtown location is important, it’s the building’s old-warehouse look and feel that make it not only attractive to tenants, but architecturally agreeable with the neighborhood, according to Vancouver Mayor Tim Leavitt.

鈥淭he developer has been very thoughtful in the design of the building to see that it both fits in with the existing context and on the inside is state-of-the-art design,鈥� Leavitt said. 鈥淭hey are really addressing the new age of office space and atmosphere for employees.鈥�

Contrary to common practice for buildings of the Hudson’s size, no steel beams were used in the building’s construction, said Noel Johnson, vice president of Killian Pacific. The Hudson is constructed solely of timber, concrete and brick. The building features a solid, load-bearing brick envelope, large glass entrances, and exposed timber beams to create an industrial feel of an old warehouse.

鈥淚t’s designed like a warehouse 80 or 100 years ago,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淚t pretty much cost similar to a good-quality steel building, but people like it a lot more.鈥�

The vintage feel of the new building is the result of a combination of concrete floors, a high ceiling made of thousands of 2x4s turned on edge, and surrounding brick walls, Johnson said. The building also boasts operable windows, flexible office layouts and plenty of natural light 鈥� features that appeal to modern tenants whose tastes are being driven by their young, creative employees.

While renovating old buildings may be the current trend, Johnson points out that there are only so many older buildings available for restoration. At some point, it only makes sense to build new structures that offer a similar look and feel.

鈥淚f you can’t restore buildings, then you need new buildings,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淎nd if you’re going to build a new one, it can be just like an awesome (old) warehouse.鈥�

Heavy timber for the Hudson is made of glulam and the Hudson’s brick walls will be seismically reinforced, Johnson said.

Rich Mitchell, a managing principal with project architect Mackenzie, said the building’s name was selected as a tribute to the Hudson’s Bay Company, which established a fur-trading outpost at Vancouver in 1825.

鈥淭he Hudson is a throwback in that it is using a different structural system,鈥� Mitchell said. 鈥淔or lumber we are using glulam timbers for main beams and girders, and we’re also using a wood deck.

鈥淚t’s much like what you can see if you go into an old building in the Pearl District,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou would see wood decking and big heavy timbers. But the difference between those buildings is they were unreinforced masonry with a heavy timber frame.鈥�

Kyle Warren, senior project manager for project general contractor Turner Construction Co., said this is the first time he’s worked on a building of this type without using steel.

鈥淚t’s been a ton of fun to do,鈥� Warren said. 鈥淎 lot of us builders love wood, especially being in the Pacific Northwest. Having to build with wood of this scale gets a lot of people excited (about) coming to work every day.鈥�

While the design of the Hudson has been a big draw for tenants, Vancouver’s mayor believes its construction points to a future building boom in the city’s downtown area.

鈥淚 think we’re on the precipice of growth and construction downtown,鈥� Leavitt said, 鈥渁nd the Hudson Building is leading the way.鈥�

PROJECT INFO + TEAM

Project name: The Hudson Building

Location: Vancouver, Washington

Construction start date: February 2015

Construction completion date: December 2015

Owner/developer: Killian Pacific

Architect: Mackenzie

Engineer: Mackenzie

General contractor: Turner Construction Co.

Other associates: NAI Norris, Beggs & Simpson (leasing)