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A new kind of office development presented last week to the city’s Design Commission brings the outdoors in.

The project proposes two office buildings with a total of 270,000 square feet on what is now an open grassy field at Northwest 17^th and Front avenues.

The steel-constructed buildings will feature large glass windows and glassed-in lower floors that will flare away from each other toward the south and surround a large public plaza furnished with native plantings. The building also will have landscaped terraces at several levels to continue a theme of bringing the outdoors in.

Although commissioners said they were pleased with the overall project, which is tentatively being called 鈥淔ield Office,鈥� they had some concerns about the type of skin that will be used, where loading docks will be located, and vehicle access.

Jonathan Ledesma is heading up the project for developer Project ^. The design is being led by architect Corey Martin of Hacker (formerly THA Architecture).

After the review panel meeting on Thursday, Ledesma said the project will be unusual because the landscaping, by Jane Hansen of Lango Hansen Landscape Architects, plays a major part in the design.

鈥淭his is a landscape-driven project and we have the ability to do things architecturally that you could not do in the city center,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e’re not building from property line to property line, but (we) are bringing in the experience of the landscape that creates a new way to work in the city.鈥�

Hansen told the commission the landscaping will use meadow grasses and trees to create an environment resembling the edge of a forest.

鈥淚t’s a good metaphor for the entire site,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e could continue prairie planting all the way to 17^th (Avenue) and can tailor the prairie mix to the dominant species, such as red and blue fescue.鈥�

A major design feature is the way the buildings are splayed away from each other to allow ample sunlight into the plaza area and into the buildings, Martin said.

鈥淚n the Northwest, light is a serious driver and any opportunity to get southern light on winter days will have unexpected light filling the street,鈥� he said.

Although landscaped, portions of the plaza area could be used for special events, outdoor fitness classes, food carts or other activities, Ledesma said.

鈥淚t will be a public space, but still sheltered from the street,鈥� he said.

Martin added that the design of the plaza may also include shelters from the weather such as canopies, pavilions or outdoor tables.

鈥淵ou could move your office outside,鈥� he said.

The project’s appearance in front of the design panel had been rescheduled twice because of a heavy load of projects before the commission. Another design advice review will probably be scheduled again in November.

Although this was the first design advice review for the project by the commission, city planner Grace Jeffreys said she thinks the project will likely move forward with few hitches. She said some traffic access issues remain to be worked out with the Portland Bureau of Transportation.

鈥淭hey (the commission) were very supportive of the direction they’re going, creating a blending of the outside and inside,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 generally think they’re ready to get in a land use application.鈥�

The main focus for Ledesma was for the commission to approve the massing of the two buildings, each of which will be between four and six stories tall, and how they connect downtown to the riverfront.

The building, situated between the Union Pacific railroad tracks and the river near the Fremont Bridge, will sit on a lot with an area of 91,450 square feet. The project will feature restaurants and retail on the bottom floor, with underground parking and bicycle storage. A bike and pedestrian path will run on the west side of the project between the buildings and the railroad track.

Near the end of the meeting, Commissioner Julie Livingston praised the project design.

鈥淚 appreciate the fact you have urban buildings, but in (a) landscape that is south-facing and with open land,鈥� she said.

The skin of the building was also discussed, and Martin said brick or weathering steel might be use to keep with the industrial feel of the neighborhood.

Livingston said she did not feel strongly about what the exterior skin should be, and Commissioner Jeff聽 Simpson praised the overall project.

鈥淚 think the parti (big idea) is awesome,鈥� he said.