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Portland engineering firm seeks proposals for living building
Interface Engineering, in collaboration with NAI Norris, Beggs & Simpson, is seeking a new, highly efficient office space for itself near downtown Portland. The company鈥檚 aspirations are for a building net zero for energy, water and waste, and possibly able to achieve the Living Building Challenge standard 鈥� billed as the most advanced measure of sustainability in the built environment.
Living Building is challenging, not impossible
Three weeks ago I purchased what rock climbers refer to as a “slackline”. Slacklining is art of balancing on a fat nylon band you typically see tied between two trees […]
June Key Delta Community Center enters home stretch
The grand opening of the June Key Delta Community Center is only three weeks away, but the North Portland project still faces challenges primarily because of a commitment to meet strict green building standards.
What’s your green building made of?
Local attorney Joseph Eckhardt of Stoel Rives has an interesting piece on Environmental Leader about the “green inputs” that go into buildings to reach certifications like LEED. His basic point […]
What’s your green building made of?
Local attorney Joseph Eckhardt of Stoel Rives has an interesting piece on Environmental Leader about the “green inputs” that go into buildings to reach certifications like LEED. His basic point […]
Oregon Sustainability Center meets its Seattle cousin
The Oregon Sustainability Center, still being developed in Portland, is expected to be a superlative accomplishment for American green building. Meanwhile, another Pacific Northwest project 鈥� the Cascadia Center for […]
Sustainability Center will filter human waste
The Oregon University System's ambitious mixed-use office tower, the Oregon Sustainability Center, will use a living machine to filter human waste into sterile water in order to meet the requirements of the Living Building Challenge.
First projects meet Living Building Challenge
Three buildings this week became the first in the world to achieve the goals of the Living Building Challenge, considered the most stringent green building guide.
Living buildings get a test run in Clark County
Building and development codes in Clark County don't allow builders to meet the Living Building Challenge. For the next five years, the county will test these net-zero projects to see if codes should be changed to accommodate them.
Brothers teach Living Building by example
A home in Southeast Portland may not meet the Living Building Challenge, but it will likely come close. The brothers who are building the home are using it as a teaching tool to inspire future green builders.
Sustainability center may have unique top in bid to be net-zero
Leave it to the Oregon Sustainability Center to tip its cap to the sun. The center will rely heavily on solar panels to produce all of its own energy, and […]
BOMA looks at challenges ahead for Oregon Sustainability Center
A Building Owners and Managers Association meeting this week will focus on the Living Building Challenge and how it is impacting the feasibility study for the Oregon Sustainability Center. The […]
News
- Multnomah County commits up to $101.6M for Moda Center
- Portland code changes to take effect in November
- Los Colibris project approved for Portland’s OMSI District
- Pacific Northwest projects totaling $9.9 million in top bidders | Aug. 7, 2026
- Oregon opens infrastructure grant program
- Ex-TV host claps back at Detroit officials in blight case
- 31-unit multifamily project in Portland land use review intakes | Aug. 3, 2026
- $2.4 million office renovation in Portland building permits | Aug. 3, 2026
- Transportation commission weighs ODOT budget cuts
- Lam Research planning $1.7 billion investment in Tualatin
- Pacific Northwest projects totaling $10.6 million in top bidders | July 31, 2026
- Many Oregon counties struggling to maintain their fairgrounds
Commentary
- Beware of when the debt collector comes calling | Opinion
- Assembly of a future workforce begins with an invitation | Opinion
- Beware of overlooking legal requirements for remote workers | Opinion
- Become a critical thinker and transform a workplace | Opinion
- Managing construction risks with international suppliers | Opinion
- A rally with many engines: the lesson of 2026’s first half | Opinion
- Oregon housing challenges persist despite sound and fury | Opinion
- When does an employee’s bullying become harassment? | Opinion
- Ditch disorganization 鈥� the cost of deferred decisions | Opinion
- Consider 10 common risks for healthcare construction projects | Opinion
- Clarifying the reach of a law regarding prevailing wage | Opinion
- Adjust to legal changes now to ensure compliance later | Opinion
