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The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry has chosen a prominent Portland developer to remake the nonprofit group’s 18-acre riverfront campus in Southeast Portland.

Gerding Edlen beat out six other applicants to serve as master developer of OMSI‘s campus. Three applicants were interviewed, OMSI spokesman John Farmer stated in an email message.

Gerding Edlen, founded in Portland in 1996 by Mark Edlen and the late Bob Gerding, has risen to become a large-scale real estate investment and development firm. The company has played a role in developing the Brewery Blocks in the Pearl District, the South Waterfront, Twelve West, Oregon Health and Science University‘s Center for Health and Healing and many other local projects.

鈥淚 was impressed by their demonstrated expertise in developing transformative urban neighborhoods like the Brewery Blocks and South Waterfront, and their ability to work with the city of Portland and other public agencies in securing public funds for public-private partnerships,鈥� OMSI President and CEO Nancy Steuber stated in an email message.

Securing public dollars was a stumbling block for the proposed Zidell Yards project, which collapsed earlier this month after Zidell officials determined the South Waterfront project wouldn’t work without additional money for public infrastructure. OMSI officials had hoped Zidell Yards would serve as a 鈥渂ookend鈥� development across the Willamette River.

鈥淭he city has given us a pretty strong commitment that they’ll be a good partner in this process,鈥� said Ken Wilson, OMSI’s senior director of campus development. 鈥淲e already have a lot of public infrastructure in place, which Zidell Yards didn’t. The request is probably going to be less than (Zidell officials asked the city to contribute). We’re optimistic the city is going to be able to step up and help out where appropriate.鈥�

Gerding Edlen’s team includes SERA Architects, the Farkas Group, Long Haul Capital Group and Urban Systems.

OMSI in January issued a request for qualifications. The nonprofit developed a campus master plan concept with design firm Snohetta, in consultation with city officials.

The plan identified 11 acres of developable land with capacity for up to 1.7 million square feet of buildable space. The development opportunities are on seven developable parcels ranging from聽0.69 acres to 4.49 acres. Maximum building heights vary from 80 feet to 250 feet.

鈥淲hat particular uses will be on the site are still to be determined as we partner with Gerding and decide what makes sense,鈥� Steuber said in an interview.

Jill Sherman, a Gerding Edlen partner, is leading the OMSI campus redevelopment. The project will go through the city’s Central City master plan process, she said.

Sherman said an anchor tenant will be sought that aligns with OMSI’s mission.

鈥淚t’d be great to find an anchor tenant for a building that is somehow technology- or energy-focused,鈥� she said.

Multifamily buildings will not be a focus, Sherman said.

鈥淭here may be some component of housing, but it’s not meant to be the majority,鈥� she said.

Office uses are likely on the site, Sherman said.

OMSI’s campus also makes sense for a cutting-edge sustainability project, Sherman said.

鈥淚t seems like such a great, obvious location for a demonstration project for a new, innovative technology, or a known technology that hasn’t been used much here,鈥� she said.

That could mean a central plant shared between buildings, sustainable wastewater treatment or an innovative transportation project.

鈥淭hose are all possibilities and we’ll be looking at what makes sense for OMSI’s campus,鈥� she said.

OMSI has insisted on retaining ownership of the land to create a long-term financial asset that would support the museum. Ground leases will be available on individual sites, with a structure to be determined. Gerding Edlen has successfully used that approach before, including with Sound Transit’s under-construction development in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood.

鈥淚t’s always going to be a little bit easier to finance a project that’s fee simple, but we have done a number of ground leases and it’s not an unusual approach for a public or nonprofit entity that owns the land,鈥� Sherman said.

Gerding Edlen has developed more than 75 buildings certified by the U.S. Green Building Council‘s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. As Gerding Edlen has grown, it has increasingly looked to other markets, including Boston, Chicago and Oakland, California.

Last year, Edlen reduced his day-to-day management of the firm, turning the keys over to co-managing partners Kelly Saito and Molly Bordonaro. Edlen continues to serve as the firm’s board chairman.