At a Glance

Innovative water infrastructure helps ensure net-positive water use in a five-story, mixed use building.

Project Description

Located less than two blocks from the Willamette River, a five-story, mixed-use structure planned for Portland, Oregon’s Old Town Historic neighborhood is poised to become  the first developer-driven and largest commercial urban Living Building in the world. Designed by ZGF Architects and PAE Consulting Engineers—a future occupant of the building—the 58,700-square foot structure will produce 105 percent of its energy needs and meet its potable water needs from harvested rain and internal water recycling. The project also aims to become the first office building in North America to produce fertilizer from captured high strength waste onsite (urine and compost leachate).

A key member of the integrated design team, Biohabitats engineered the building’s water and waste infrastructure, which includes onsite systems for harvesting rainwater for potable water supply, greywater treatment for reuse in toilet flushing and irrigation, and nutrient recovery. The nutrient recovery system turns high strength waste into retail grade fertilizer. The building includes 20 composting bins to manage toilet waste and a 71,000-gallon cistern.

In addition to supporting the project’s pursuit of the LBCs stringent Water Petal, the water infrastructure contributes to the building’s positive impact on Willamette River Watershed and the broader regional ecology.

Details

Bioregion

Cascadia

Physiographic Province

Willamette Valley

Watershed

Willamette River

Expertise Areas

Infrastructure, Water

Owner

Edlen & Company

Location

Portland, Oregon, United States

Awards

  • 2030 Award, Honorary Mention, AIA Oregon, 2022
  • Best Project Award, Office/Retail/Mixed Use category, ENR Northwest Regional, 2022

Project Team
  • ZGF Architects
  • PAE Consulting Engineers
  • KPFF Consulting Engineers
  • Walsh Construction