Case Study
City of Portland
A Landmark Revitalized: The Portland Building’s Sustainable Reconstruction
- Healthier Built Environments
Practices Engaged
- Biophilia & Biophilic Design
- Custom Healthy Materials
- Custom Sustainable Materials
- LEED
- LEED & WELL Compliant Materials
- Sustainability Program Planning
Services Delivered
- Government & Public Service (Local / Municipal)
Industry Sectors
- City Halls & Civic Centers
- Offices (Core & Shell + Interiors)
Building Types

Completed in 1982, the 15-story Portland Municipal Services Building in downtown Portland, Oregon, is on the National Register of Historic Places as the world’s first postmodern building. Originally designed by Michael Graves as the administrative offices for the City of Portland, it quickly became an icon of postmodern architecture, gaining attention for its bold design and unique character. However, structural and performance flaws clouded its acclaim. The building was rife with issues, from inefficient operations to unhealthy interior conditions. In 2015, the City of Portland made a forward-thinking decision: rather than demolishing and rebuilding, they opted to renovate and reconstruct the Portland Building. This choice not only preserved an architectural icon but also exemplified principles of circularity and significantly reduced embodied carbon emissions by reusing an existing structure. Addressing its structural flaws, updating its systems, and renovating its interior proved to be more sustainable and cost-effective than starting from scratch. Working alongside DLR Group as architect, Howard S. Wright Construction, and the City of Portland, Brightworks Sustainability served as a sustainability consultant for the reconstruction of the project and helped transform the Portland Building into a LEED Platinum certified building that incorporated many aspects of the WELL building rating system, along with a much-improved occupant wellness experience. Today, the Portland Building stands tall as a product of significant reconstruction. The project preserved the iconic exterior design while transforming the indoor experience into an open and bright biophilic, energy-efficient, and collaborative workplace. What was once deemed a “sick building” is now a thriving work environment and a welcoming space for the community, demonstrating the power of sustainability and reuse in shaping a better future. The Road to ReconstructionFor the 360,000-square-foot building, the reconstruction project included a host of improvements from envelope repair/replacement, seismic upgrades, mechanical system replacements, and a full interior remodel. The project also included several sustainability performance requirements, including achievement of LEED-NC Certification at the Gold level and targeting WELL Building Certification. With over 20 years of experience as accredited experts in green building certification, the Brightworks team played a crucial role in guiding the project through the certification process. LEED-NC from the U.S. Green Building Council focuses on creating sustainable, energy-efficient buildings by promoting environmental responsibility, resource conservation, and reducing the carbon footprint. The WELL Building Standard, on the other hand, emphasizes the health and well-being of occupants by improving indoor air quality, access to natural light, and creating spaces that promote physical and mental wellness. Together, the aspects of these certifications allow the Portland Building to not only minimize its environmental impact but also support the long-term health and productivity of its occupants. Facilitating Sustainability CertificationsBrightworks’ process for managing sustainability certifications requires meticulous oversight to confirm that criteria are properly implemented and verified. This approach goes deeper than simply checking a box; Brightworks’ involvement makes sustainability initiatives more than aspirational–they become operational. For the Portland Building project, Brightworks’ expertise played a crucial role in achieving key sustainability outcomes. On-site consultants guided critical efforts in areas including:
Brightworks’ role extended beyond compliance. The team facilitated a process that not only helped achieve certification but also met the high-quality standards expected by the City of Portland. By serving as a vigilant advocate for the project’s sustainability goals, the Brightworks team helped uphold the integrity of the reconstruction. Notable Achievements in Energy EfficiencyThe reconstructed Portland Building’s energy use intensity (EUI) is now at 25, which is 50% lower than the original building’s EUI of 50, making it a successful deep energy retrofit. According to the Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS), average office buildings have an EUI of ~116. The original building’s EUI of 50 made it relatively efficient before reconstruction, but with the additional energy-saving measures implemented during reconstruction, the building achieved a 58% reduction compared to the average U.S. office building. Circularity at the Core of the ReconstructionThe Portland Building’s reconstruction exemplifies the principles of the circular economy, which aims to eliminate waste, circulate materials at their highest value, and regenerate nature. By choosing to renovate rather than demolish, the project avoided the significant waste and embodied carbon emissions associated with new construction, preserving the building’s original structure while modernizing its functionality. This decision underscores the potential of circularity to tackle climate change and resource depletion while inspiring the building industry to prioritize reuse, reduce resource consumption, and support local supply chains. Where Preservation Meets InnovationThe Portland Building is now a symbol of what is possible when historic preservation meets modern innovation. By addressing its long-standing structural and performance challenges, the reconstruction project redefined the building as a model for sustainable design. “Revitalizing the Portland Building involved more than just modernizing a structure; it was about preserving its unique character while supporting the well-being of its occupants and the environment for years to come,” said Elena Goldstein Lake, Sustainable Buildings Technical Lead at Brightworks Sustainability. Through Brightworks’ leadership in sustainability and the collaborative efforts of all project partners, the Portland Building has achieved an impressive balance between honoring its historic significance and embracing a future focused on environmental stewardship and occupant well-being. Written by Corey Hastings, Marketing Consultant |


3D Holdings
TimberView Affordable Housing
3D Holdings
TimberView Affordable Housing
Portland, OR
This eight-story multi-family affordable housing development provides Northeast Portland with 112 much-needed units and a 3,000-square-foot commercial area. Special energy measures will secure incentive funding from the Portland Clean Energy Fund.
Practices Engaged:
Sustainable Built Environments, Energy
Industry Sectors:
Real Estate Development
Building Types:
Multifamily Residential, Affordable Housing


City of Portland
Case Study
City of Portland
Case Study
Practices Engaged:
Healthier Built Environments
Industry Sectors:
Government & Public Service (Local / Municipal)
Building Types:
Offices (Core & Shell + Interiors), City Halls & Civic Centers
Read more


ABB
North American GreenCRREM Assessments
ABB
North American GreenCRREM Assessments
Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Michican, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin, West Virginia
ABB is a global leader in industrial technology. Across 17 states, Brightworks conducted sustainability assessments on more than 50 buildings in ABB's North American portfolio, including manufacturing, office, and warehousing facilities. An extensive report providing a baseline assessment for each site helped ABB prioritize energy efficiency measures, budget for carbon reduction efforts, and calculate ROI as part of its GreenCRREM program.
Practices Engaged:
Sustainable Built Environments, Carbon, Energy
Industry Sectors:
Manufacturing, Technology (Non-Bio)
Building Types:
Manufacturing, Real Estate Portfolios, Offices (Core & Shell + Interiors)


Abt Global
Office WELL Health-Safety Rating
Abt Global
Office WELL Health-Safety Rating
Atlanta, GA; Cambridge, MA; Durham, NC; Rockville, MD
To help Abt Associates implement COVID-19 prevention measures, Brightworks managed a WELL Health-Safety Rating program for offices in Georgia, Massachusetts, Maryland, and North Carolina in order to minimize the potential for infectious disease outbreaks.
Practices Engaged:
Healthier Built Environments
Industry Sectors:
Professional Services, Research & Development (R&D)
Building Types:
Offices (Interiors)


Salesforce
Case Study
Salesforce
Case Study
This letter to the industry highlights the urgent need to address embodied carbon in MEP/IT/AV systems. While operational emissions have seen progress, this embodied carbon remains a challenge. This article reveals insights to guide the industry toward a 50% reduction by 2030 to stay on track for meeting net-zero carbon targets for 2050.
Practices Engaged:
ESG + Corporate Sustainability, Sustainable Built Environments, Carbon, Materials
Industry Sectors:
Real Estate Development, Real Estate Management, Operations & Maintenance
Building Types:
Offices (Interiors)
Read more


Ashland School District
School Bond Climate Action Plan
Ashland School District
School Bond Climate Action Plan
Ashland, OR
For this bond-funded facilities program, Brightworks designed project-specific energy efficiency and sustainability measures to align with the City of Ashland’s Climate and Energy Action Plan (CEAP). The project took advantage of Energy Trust of Oregon and City of Ashland incentives for building energy analysis and natural gas energy savings. Additionally, the City of Ashland water department provided incentives for low-flow plumbing fixtures and irrigation systems upgrades.
Practices Engaged:
Government Sector Sustainability, Sustainable Built Environments
Industry Sectors:
K-12 Education
Building Types:
Real Estate Portfolios, K-12 Schools

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