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Metropolitan Group Headquarters
Submitting Company: Scott | Edwards Architecture
Location: Portland
Cost: Confidential
Owner/Developer: Metropolitan Group
Architect: Scott | Edwards Architecture
Engineer: Catena Consulting Engineers
Other Associates/Consultants: Point Monitor
General Contractor: Todd Hess Building
Subcontractors: Advanced Locking Solutions, American Heating, Baxter & Flaming, Beaverton Plumbing, Culver Glass, Faustrollean, Herinck Painting & Decorating, Point Monitor, Pure Floors, Roedel Tile Contracting, Steel Stud Choppers, Timberland Electrical Contractors, Versatile Wood Products, WH Cress, Wyatt Fire Protection

The historic Balfour-Guthrie building had incredible qualities that the design team sought to highlight and respect, while adapting to Metropolitan Group’s vision for its 19,000-square-foot headquarters. This had an inherent advantage of being a sustainable project by using the existing resources and adapting and retrofitting selectively.

These elements included new amenities often found in open creative offices, such as flexible space that allows for both large gatherings and intimate conversations. The interior reconfiguration of space includes enclosed and open office areas, conference rooms, a breakroom and kitchen, updated lobby and reception areas.

The Balfour-Guthrie building was one of the first reinforced concrete structures on the West Coast. This structure is now exposed and celebrated through the addition of interior glazing as partitions for transparency and light.

Historic buildings provide both challenges and opportunities throughout the course of a project. The entrance lobby flooring had been covered during a previous remodel. The team took a risk in removing these layers and discovered that some original marble and tile were still in good condition.
The team established recycle and reuse for demolition and disposal, sourced sustainably produced and as-local-as-possible materials to reduce carbon footprint, and used no-toxin and low-toxin paint and finishes.