Project name: WSU Vancouver Life Sciences Building

Location: Vancouver, Washington

Completion: April 2024

Size: 62,000 square feet including greenhouse and mechanical rooms

Cost: $57,055 000

Owner/Developer: Washington State University Vancouver

Architect: SRG + Cannon Design

Interior Designer: SRG + Cannon Design

Engineers: Catena Consulting Engineers, Affiliated Engineers, Samata Consulting Engineers

General Contractor: Andersen Construction

Submitting Company: Andersen Construction

Subcontractors: ABC, AIG, Andersen Finish Carpentry, Arctic, ASI, B&B Tile and Masonry, BMS, Cache Valley Electric, Cherry City Electric, Concrete Collaborative, Dallas Glass, Delta AV, Drake’s Striping & Painting, Floor Solutions, General Sheet Metal, Harver, JCI, JH Kelly, JS Perrott, MacDonald-Miller, McKinstry, Milwaukie Floors, MottLab, Otis, Portland Coatings, Prestige Tile, Prospiant/Argus, Sign Wizards, Stonhard, Superior Interiors, Teufel, Weitman Excavation, WPI

Washington State University Vancouver has opened its first new academic building in 11 years, a state-of-the-art life sciences facility that promises to transform research and education opportunities for students in STEM disciplines.

The 55,000-square-foot building, which earned LEED Gold certification, houses cutting-edge laboratories for neuroscience, molecular biology and nursing research, alongside specialized greenhouses and a vivarium space.

Funded primarily through a $57.1 million allocation from the Washington State Legislature, the $63.8 million project was completed with additional support from private donors and a $1 million contribution from the Cowlitz Tribal Foundation.

Andersen Construction collaborated with SRG as a design-build team, employing innovative building methods to reduce environmental impact. Among these was the use of mass plywood panels for exterior walls, which accelerated construction and lowered the building’s carbon footprint.

The prefabrication of the mass plywood walls helped create a safe worksite. Not only did this method reduce the number of on-site manhours for the installation, it allowed workers to install weather resistant barriers inside a protected facility and on the ground – reducing the need for trades to work in harnessing above ground. All exterior panels were installed in just two weeks, completing several days faster than anticipated.

The facility features fully automated greenhouses with ridge vents, sun shades, evaporative cooling systems and grow lamps for plant and butterfly research. A dedicated vivarium space maintains strict environmental controls to ensure research animal safety.

Energy efficiency was prioritized through a heat recovery chiller connected to campus heating and chilled water loops, helping the building meet Washington’s strict energy code requirements.

The project team achieved a 61 percent diversion rate of construction waste from landfills while incorporating low-carbon concrete to reduce embodied carbon emissions.

Site planning took advantage of the natural hillside grade, creating a more inviting entrance while preserving views from nearby buildings. This strategic design change saved nearly $1 million during preconstruction.

Indoor and outdoor gathering spaces, including lounges, study areas and plazas, provide collaborative environments for students and faculty.

The building’s design incorporated input from the Cowlitz Indian Tribe, resulting in the integration of native and indigenous plants across the landscape.

The project did not have MWESB requirements, but the team was committed to getting at least 20 percent participation. Andersen exceeded that goal, achieving 25 percent participation with 14 firms across design and trade partners.

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Project name: Mahonia Crossing

Location: Salem

Completion: September 2024

Size: 318,601

Owner: Community Development Partners

Architect: Scott Edwards Architecture

Interior Designer: Scott Edwards Architecture

Engineers: Interface Engineering, Stonewood Structural Engineers, Westech Engineering

General Contractor: Gerding Builders

Submitting Company: Scott Edwards Architecture

Other Associates/Key Consultants: PLACE

Subcontractors: 3Form, Academy Specialties, All-Seasons Landscape, Alpha Construction, Andres Landscape, B&T Striping & Curbing, Bell Hardware-Salem, Black Line Glazing, Brothers Construction, BRX, Bryker Enterprises, Building Material Specialties, Cascade Radon, Columbia Cascade, Construction Specialties, Corvallis Tree Care, Crown Ridge Construction, Dallas Glass, DE-EL Enterprises, Double Eagle, Evergreen Valley, Forms + Structures, Fred Eichler Construction, Gelco Construction, Great Northwest Gutters, GVA Northwest, H3O, Home Insulation, Interior Technology, Jet Industries, K&E Excavating, Kelly’s Appliance, Kelly’s Home Center, Key West Retaining Systems, Kraft Masonry, Lanz Cabinets, Lindstrom Construction, McDowell Concrete, Merit Contractor, Meyer Sign Co. of Oregon, Mid-Valley Commercial Construction, Mid-Valley Glass & Millwork, Norse Iron Works, North Santiam Paving, Northside Electric, Northwest Waterproofing, Nugent Masonry, Omlid & Swinney Fire Protection, Oregon Cascade, Oregon Door Consultants, Outdoor Fence, Pacific Air, Pacific Construction, Painter a Boles Bros., PDCI, Phillys Plumbing, Phoenix, Precision Countertops, RC Building Specialties, Roy Houck, Sign Wizards, Smith Glass, Spinneybeck Filzfelt, Stutzman & Kropf Contractors, Sunbreak Energy Advisors, Superior Interiors, TerraCalc Land Surveying, TGC Structural, Tims Carpet & Interiors, TK Elevator, Top Dog Turf, Topline Counters, Ultra Quiet Floors, Valley Shades, Western Partitions, Westside Drywall & Insulation, Willamette Windows & Doors, Zochert Fence

In the wake of devastating 2021 wildfires that left many Salem residents without homes, a pioneering housing development is offering a new approach to affordable living while fostering connections across generations.

Mahonia Crossing, one of the largest “Community for All Ages” developments and the first in Salem, integrates senior housing with family-centered residential walk-ups in a mixed-income community serving residents in 30 percent, 60 percent and 80 percent area median income brackets.

The development, designed by Scott Edwards Architecture, departs from traditional suburban multi-family housing by organizing walk-up buildings around a central park rather than distributing them across a parking grid. This thoughtful approach to site planning creates numerous spaces for residents to interact.

A mass timber, Path-to-Net-Zero community building anchors the development’s entrance, featuring a lobby that connects resident services and amenity spaces. The building includes a large common room with an open floor plan ideal for cooking and nutrition classes.

The senior building serves as a gateway to the central park and includes viewing decks and a first-floor fitness center to increase accessibility for older residents. This strategic positioning encourages daily multi-generational encounters.

Interior spaces prioritize natural light and views of the landscaping through large windows and open floor plans. The design incorporates site-reclaimed white oak and uses a blend of traditional and contemporary elements with vibrant colors for a lively feel. The National Green Building Standard certified development features sustainable elements throughout, including low-to-no-VOC finishes, energy-efficient lighting and appliances, and local manufacturing for cabinets and tile.

Despite complexities from overlapping construction phases to meet urgent housing needs after the wildfires, the development team maintained a collaborative environment to deliver the project on time and on budget.

Beyond providing housing, Mahonia Crossing successfully integrates into an existing middle-upper-class neighborhood by using architecture and landscape design to build community and create opportunities for residents of all ages to connect.

Salem Housing Authority was pivotal to the project’s success, providing 56 project-based vouchers for the development and providing the developer with the ability to receive a full property tax exemption.

The Mahonia Crossing project had a contracting goal of 20 percent DMWESB participation, and Gerding Builders exceeded the target, achieving 27 percent actual participation.
The predominantly minority-and-women-led design team also represented more than 20 percent DMWESB participation.

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Project name: DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital

Location: Portland

Completion: November 2024

Size: 63,520 square feet

Owner/Developer: DoveLewis

Architect: Mackenzie

Interior Designer: Mackenzie

Engineers: PAE, Mackenzie, GRI

General Contractor: Skanska USA Building

Submitting Company: Skanska USA Building

Subcontractors: American Direct, Anning Johnson, Bauwerk Safety Systems, BMS, Cash’s Drapery, Coffman Excavation, Consurco, Corona, Dallas Glass & Window, Dennis’ 7 Dees, Diverse Works, Don Frank Floors, EC Electric, Elder Demolition, ETS-Lindgren, Faithful Fence, Hanset, Harding Steel, Interior Technology, Legend Custom Woodworking, McDonald & Wetle, Ness Campbell Crane, Nugent Masonry, Otis Elevator, Overhead Door, Pacific Foundation, PAS, R2M2 Rebar & Stressing, Sawtooth Caulking, Sign Wizards, Stoncor Group dba Stonehard, Steimer, Viking Automatic Sprinkler, WFJ Janitorial

DoveLewis’ new emergency animal hospital is revolutionizing veterinary care in the Pacific Northwest, offering specialized treatments previously unavailable in Oregon.

The three-story, 63,520-square-foot “Whiskers” building stands in Northwest Portland, just across from DoveLewis’ existing 24/7 emergency clinic. While the original facility continues handling urgent cases, “Whiskers” focuses on specialty care with some of the most advanced medical technology in the country.

The hospital features one of the nation’s most powerful MRI-PET machines, operating at 3 Tesla units compared to the typical 1.5 Teslas. This equipment serves diverse patients – from household cats and dogs to more exotic animals like kangaroos.

The building is an accredited teaching hospital and is one of the only facilities of its kind in the United States. It offers specialty animal care that is not available anywhere else Oregon. The facility includes specialized exam and surgery rooms, oncology and neurology departments, separate feline and canine wards, and three outdoor patios. For staff, amenities include a maternity room, conference space and breakrooms.

Construction presented numerous challenges due to the tight urban site. The building’s footprint is surrounded by four adjacent buildings, some within inches of proximity. The limited space required meticulous planning, with materials ordered months in advance for just-in-time delivery. At peak construction, nearly 100 workers navigated the confined site, requiring daily huddles and weekly meetings to coordinate activities and ensure safety.

The new steel and concrete structure – designed to be seismically resilient with connected brace frames, shotcrete walls and interior steel – combines exterior metal and terracotta wall panels with CMU and features an underground parking garage, automated car stackers and a green roof. Interior finishes consist of standard ACT and hard lids, storage and casework with integral stainless steel, exposed concrete, carpet, and epoxy flooring in rooms needing a higher degree of sanitation.

Visible from above as a distinctive paw print pattern, a vegetated green roof functions as a stormwater filtration system while reducing the heat island effect, lowering energy costs and improving air quality.

During construction, the Skanska team led weekly tours for the client and potential donors to help raise additional funds for the project. One client donor was able to have their dog, Griffin, walk through the concrete in the front lobby and the paw prints were filled with epoxy to memorialize his touch on the hospital.

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Project name: City of Happy Valley Library Expansion

Location: Happy Valley

Completion: August 2024

Size: 10,700 square feet

Cost: $9,348,302

Owner/Developer: City of Happy Valley

Architect: Scott Edwards Architecture

Engineers: Harper Houf Peterson Righellis, Interface Engineering

General Contractor: Bremik Construction

Submitting Company: Bremik Construction

Other Associates/Key Consultants: ABD Engineering and Design, Reyes Engineering, Vertex Technology Design and Consulting

Subcontractors: Anderson Specialties, Architectural Metalcrafters, Authority Dock & Door, B & T Striping and Curbing, BASCO, Bell Hardware, Bryker Enterprises, Building Material Specialties, Cascade Acoustics, D & H Flagging, Dallas Glass, Diamond Concrete Products, Duke Construction & Excavation, Eastside Paving, Elementary Energy, Fire Systems West, Hercon Rebar & Post Tension, Hilltop Commercial Supply, Insulation Contractors, Integrity Industries dba Cement Elegance, Interior Technology, Longhorn Geomatics, MB Structures, McDonald & Wetle, Northwest Masonry Restoration, Pacific Window Tinting, Paulson’s Floor Coverings, Piper Mechanical, Portland Electrical Construction, RedBuilt, Rich Holland Painting, Skyline Sheet Metal, Spectrum Custom Interiors, Superior Interiors, Ultra Quiet Floors, Van Lom Concrete, Vaughn Environmental, Wallace Steel, Wright Manufacturing, Zeeland

The City of Happy Valley’s 10,700-square-foot library expansion transformed an existing space into an enhanced community hub for the city’s 55,000 residents.

Designed around the concept of “The Community’s Living Room,” the expansion includes a 300-person community room that can be divided into smaller spaces, private study rooms for both individual and group use, and improved accessibility features.

The architectural design bridges old and new, with the existing library structure inspired by book spines while the expansion draws from book binding imagery. This concept appears throughout the project, from the zigzag facade addressing the steep slope to matching acoustic treatments inside. The triangular, sloped site required an intentional floorplan that maximized every square foot: even niches and nooks have purpose.

The expansion maintains a single public-facing level for accessibility despite challenging terrain, with a staff-only lower level housing mechanical equipment and storage. The design orients the community room toward an adjacent nature reserve, maximizing visitors’ connection with the natural surroundings.

Interior spaces feature wood tones echoing the exterior’s vertical slats, exposed structural glulams in the community room, and neutral, durable materials that support various activities and easy maintenance.

Construction presented multiple challenges, including proximity to a habitat conservation area, maintaining library operations throughout the project, and winter weather delays that extended completion by three days.

The expansion outperforms Oregon Energy Code requirements by 30 percent, incorporating sustainable elements including a 33-kilowatt solar photovoltaic array, installed by Portland Electrical Construction in partnership with Elementary Energy; all-electric HVAC systems for energy-efficient climate control; and advanced insulation techniques to improve thermal performance. A robust stormwater management system mitigates runoff and protects the adjacent habitat conservation area.

Though not required by contract, the project team prioritized community engagement by partnering with several local businesses.

The collaboration among Bremik Construction, Scott Edwards Architecture, and multiple engineering firms ensured the project addressed technical complexities such as aligning new HVAC systems with existing infrastructure and coordinating sophisticated utility networks.

“The Happy Valley Library Expansion has been an overnight transformation for our community living room,” said Ben Bryant, Happy Valley assistant city manager, in the project nomination form. “Our typical programs such as story times more than doubled in average attendance within the first weeks of opening. Moreover, the project was delivered on-time, under-budget, and with zero workplace injuries.”

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JINJA, Uganda — Simon Tigawalana dreamed for years of doing something about the dirt floors in his small house, blaming them for making his family sick. But in a rural area in one of the world’s poorest countries, covering the floors with concrete was financially out of reach.

Then a company called EarthEnable approached him to offer an alternative: a clay-based earthen floor. The cost of this durable, sealed floor is less than half that of a concrete floor. Tigawalana now has an EarthEnable floor in two rooms and hopes to soon add another to the last room.

“I’m happy that we now have a decent home and can also comfortably host visitors,” said Tigawalana, a 56-year-old father of 16. “Ever since we got a clay floor my kids no longer get cough and flu that used to come from the dust raised while sweeping the dirt floors.”

EarthEnable, which seeks to upgrade housing across Africa, has been promoting and installing the clay-based floors in Uganda since 2017. Besides eliminating dust that can irritate breathing, the floors are credited with reducing infestations of jiggers — a parasitic flea that can burrow into the skin and cause pain, itching and infection. Uganda’s health ministry says poor hygiene due to dirt floors contributes to such infestations.

“Our floors help to prevent pathogens and other illnesses linked to dust floors, since most of these families can’t afford hospital care,” said Noeline Mutesi, a sales and marketing manager for EarthEnable.

The first step in building the floor is digging and leveling the surface. Then murram — local red soil rich in iron and aluminum oxides — is mixed with sand and water and then compacted. After two weeks of drying, masons use wooden floats to smooth and further compact the surface. Next, the pasting process involves applying a fine clay screed to further smooth the surface and prepare it for a final sealant, a flaxseed-based varnish that hardens into a durable, plastic-like resin.

A typical floor costs around 240,000 Uganda shillings (about $65), which EarthEnable says is about 70 percent cheaper than concrete. Buyers can pay in installments. EarthEnable, a U.S.-based nonprofit, operates for-profit subsidiaries in Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya, and says any profits are invested into startup costs in new markets as well as research and development.

EarthEnable said it has installed about 5,000 floors in Uganda, more than 39,000 in Rwanda and more than 100 in Kenya. The company also does wall plastering to help reduce dust, moisture and insect infestations common in mud homes.

In Jinja, the company’s program employs more than 100 masons from within the community. Many are disadvantaged boys who have dropped out of school because they can’t afford fees, said Alex Wanda, a construction officer at the company.

“We focus on employing these young village boys that we train in skills to build these earthen floors, thus creating for them employment opportunities,” Wanda said in an interview.

About 42 percent of Ugandans live in extreme poverty. Its Bureau of Statistics says the country has a housing deficit of 2.6 million units, and it’s growing. The country needs to add 300,000 housing units per year to overcome the deficit, mainly in rural areas. That is where many Ugandans live and where housing quality and availability remain pressing concerns.

The company also touts the clay floors as a more sustainable alternative to concrete, which besides being more expensive generates major carbon emissions in production.

The cement industry is one of Uganda’s biggest contributors to carbon emissions, accounting for about 628,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2023, its highest recorded level. More broadly, construction accounts for 37 percent of global emissions, according to the United Nations Environment Programme.

Uganda, like much of the rest of the world, has seen a rise in extreme weather events — such as flooding and prolonged drought — made more likely by climate change.

“Initiatives like this are crucial in the global effort to decarbonize the construction sector,” said Penina Atwine, a program officer at the Uganda-based organization Environmental Alert. “Such innovative local solutions that address both climate change and social needs like EarthEnable’s model could inspire similar approaches across the globe.”

In the village of Budima, Rehema Namukose spent most of her family’s savings to build a house. She couldn’t afford a cleaner floor until she worked through EarthEnable to pay for a clay floor in installments. She lives there with her three children and credits the new floor for improving the health of a sickly daughter.

“This is affordable for my family and will help us maintain hygiene,” she said. “We are now living a better life.”

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Construction of a 130-unit affordable housing development is under way in Hood River. Mariposa Village will consist of six wood-framed residential buildings, plus a community center. There will be a mix of townhouses and multistory multifamily buildings, including one specifically for seniors.

Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation and Community Development Partners are co-developing the project. Holst Architecture designed Mariposa Village and Walsh Construction is the general contractor. The team also includes civil engineer Klein and Associates of Hood River, structural engineer TM Rippey Consulting Engineers, MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) consultant Interface Engineering, and landscape architect PLACE.

After purchasing the 7.25-acre project site, at 780 Rand Road, in 2020 for $1.2 million, the city of Hood River donated it for development through an RFP process. The total development cost will be approximately $74.2 million.

Mariposa Village will include seven studios, 29 one-bedroom units, 48 two-bedroom units and 46 three-bedroom units; all will be for people earning up to 60 percent of area median income. Thirty-nine units will have project-based vouchers from the Mid-Columbia Housing Authority, Community Development Partners senior development manager Lucy Corbett said. The vouchers will go to households earning up to 30 percent of AMI.

“The design is intended to create community among residents,” Corbett said.

The community center will have offices for property management and resident services; the latter will be provided by Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation. There will also be a classroom/meeting space and an outdoor patio.

Other site amenities will include a park with a playground and community garden beds. A strong emphasis will be placed on the natural environment by also incorporating trails and protecting the on-site wetlands, Community Development Partners spokesperson Jena Green stated in an email. Two trails will be operated by the city of Hood River and Hood River Valley Parks + Recreation District and be accessible by both Mariposa Village residents and community members.

National Green Building Standard gold certification is being targeted for the project. The community center will be a net-zero energy building with solar panels on its roof. The project team will receive 45L tax credits, because the residential units will meet the Zero Energy Ready Home standard of the Oregon Department of Energy.

Most of the buildings will have fiber-cement siding and gable roofs.

Construction began in late April. A ceremony hailing the start of work is expected to take place late this month. Completion of the first phase is scheduled for July 2026, with the second and final phase to follow by January 2027.

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KPFF, founded in 1960, has established itself as a leader in civil, structural, and transportation engineering, serving a wide range of industries, including commercial, residential, and public infrastructure projects. The firm’s collaborative approach ensures that designs meet both functional and aesthetic needs. Notable projects include the PAE Living Building in Portland, the largest commercial Living Building, which features mass timber construction and operates with net-zero energy, water, and waste. KPFF provided civil and structural engineering services, ensuring sustainability and resilience.

KPFF’s commitment to sustainability is demonstrated in more than 800 LEED-certified projects, including the first LEED Platinum public housing project, Bud Clark Commons in Portland. The firm also pioneered Portland’s first integrated green street neighborhood, New Columbia. Additionally, in 2024, KPFF updated its Embodied Carbon Action Plan, committing to reducing embodied carbon in structural engineering projects by 2050.

With a focus on sustainable development and a strong presence in Portland, where its office has become one of the largest civil and structural engineering firms, KPFF continues to shape the built environment. The firm’s work supports the growth of sustainable, thriving communities across the Pacific Northwest, with a strong emphasis on collaboration and innovation.

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Sturgeon Development Partners is reshaping Oregon’s real estate landscape with a focus on innovative, sustainable spaces that foster vibrant communities. With a diverse portfolio spanning mixed-use, residential, and commercial developments, the company has built a reputation for transforming underutilized properties into community-centered spaces.

A prime example of this is the redevelopment of the Premier Gear and Machine Works Building in Portland’s Slabtown district. Acquired in 2017, the 68,646-square-foot industrial site was converted into Class A office space, enhancing the area’s commercial appeal. Sturgeon also demonstrates its commitment to sustainability through the Flatworks Building, one of the tallest cross-laminated timber structures in the western United States.

This eight-story, 130,000-square-foot office building on Southeast Grand Avenue incorporates energy-efficient features and green building practices, reflecting the company’s focus on long-term value.

Sturgeon’s approach goes beyond development, emphasizing community engagement. The company proposed transforming the Premier Gear Building into a mental health crisis center with housing, underscoring its dedication to addressing local challenges. Sturgeon’s inclusive approach ensures that each project reflects the needs of residents, making it a leading force in creating positive change.

Through thoughtful development and sustainable practices, Sturgeon Development Partners is making a lasting impact on neighborhoods and communities across Oregon.

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Portland-based InkBuilt Design is an architecture firm rooted in sustainability and resilience. Specializing in residential, commercial, and community projects, the firm integrates Passive House principles and prefabrication to enhance energy efficiency and long-term durability.

InkBuilt’s portfolio includes projects like the Beaverton Shelter, which provides 24-hour, year-round emergency housing, and the Timber Ridge development, offering intergenerational affordable housing. The firm also played a key role in the renovation of Heartwood Commons, supportive housing that prioritizes community and sustainability.

Driven by the belief that architecture should serve both people and the environment, InkBuilt’s designs emphasize adaptability, affordability, and high performance. The firm’s deep expertise in sustainable building practices helps clients reduce energy consumption while creating spaces that remain functional and livable for generations.

InkBuilt collaborates with nonprofits and community groups to advocate for equitable housing and responsible development. Their work on the Josephine, a mixed-use residential building in a historic district, exemplifies their approach to balancing innovation with practicality.

As a woman-owned firm, InkBuilt emphasizes design-build collaboration, focusing on efficiency, affordability, and performance. Through projects like these, InkBuilt Design continues to explore new ways architecture can address housing challenges while promoting sustainability and community well-being.

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For Portland developer Project^, sustainability is part of every development.

Project^ is one of many local developers that still place value in environmental building certification programs even as energy codes and market expectations have raised the baseline, making nearly every project more energy efficient and environmentally responsible.

For Project^, third-party certifications such as the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, better known as LEED, ensure that everyone on a project team, including the architects and contractors, keep sustainability goals at the forefront.

“Sustainability is one of our core values as a company,” said Anyeley Hallova, a partner at Project^. “Especially in strange construction markets, with the cost of construction and the difficulty of development, it’s very easy when you get into a complex project to lose sight of the values you have if you don’t have a scorecard you’re tracking throughout the process.”

The firm’s Field Office, a two-building, 300,000-square-foot complex in Northwest Portland, in October 2018 received a LEED platinum rating – the highest attainable.

Project^ is pursuing a LEED gold rating for an addition and renovation of The Nature Conservancy’s offices in Southeast Portland. And Meyer Memorial Trust‘s new headquarters in Albina will have a “high level of LEED certification,” Hallova said. Both projects include solar arrays.

As developers, architects and contractors have made progress reaching basic levels of sustainability, the U.S. Green Building Council has repeatedly raised the bar, requiring projects to do more to meet the same rating levels.

“People see LEED as a static certification program, but every time they come out with a new version, it gets harder and harder,” Hallova said. “It’s constantly pushing the envelope with regards to sustainability.”

Mill Creek Residential Trust, a major developer based in Dallas, continues to use LEED for all of its Portland projects. Sam Rodriguez, the firm’s senior managing director in Portland, said it’s “not crazy expensive” to attain a basic LEED rating. Most recently, Mill Creek’s Modera Belmont in January received a LEED gold rating.

Multifamily projects already must have high levels of energy efficiency, low levels of volatile organic compounds and recycling of construction materials to meet regulatory and market expectations, Rodriguez said.

“A lot of it is already baked in, because either Portland requires it, or it’s something that’s already done by the local subcontractor community,” he said.

Developers must balance cost when deciding which rating to pursue.

“We strive to get (LEED) gold and quite readily achieve silver,” Rodriguez said. “Sometimes we’re able to get gold, but to try to get platinum is crazy expensive, so we generally don’t do that. When you want platinum, it starts getting really exotic. You have to push the envelope.”

Investors like to see a LEED rating to have some assurance as to building performance and energy efficiency, Rodriguez said. Renters like it too.

“It’s good PR, right?” Rodriguez said. “People like to think they’re living in the building that has taken care.”

A LEED rating does not command higher rents or sale prices when a building comes to market, Rodriguez said.

LEED is hardly the only environmental building certification, and competitors have proliferated, including Green Globes, WELL Building and Earth Advantage.

Green Globes and WELL Building have attracted governmental and other large institutional customers.

In Oregon, 48 projects have been certified by Green Globes, most recently in 2017. Many of the certified projects are apartment buildings.

WELL Building has five projects in Oregon, including three at Portland Community College.

Earth Advantage, based in Portland, has gained some industry buy-in. Project^ is pursuing Earth Advantage platinum certification for its Origami townhomes project on North Vancouver Avenue.

“We choose different certifications based on the size of the project,” Hallova said.

Hallova expects to continue pursuing certifications for its new construction projects.

“In Oregon, for the developers who care about sustainability, it’s the norm,” she said. “It’s the baseline in our buildings.”

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