Meyer Memorial Trust’s new headquarters embodies organizational values of sustainability and equity

Energy Trust offered technical support and $97,000 in incentives to help Meyers brand-new headquarters become Oregons very first Platinum LEED v4 New Construction structure. “Path to Net Zero truly emphasizes great, smart design,” stated Nicole Isle, primary sustainability strategist at Glumac. “It likewise assists to get those sustainability techniques across the line.”
“Meyers vision was to have not simply a technically sustainable building, however a really inclusive, equitable, sustainable structure.”
The finest views in the structure are from typical areas, such as the lunchroom and library, rather than executives workplaces– further promoting equity and breaking down hierarchies.

View of the Center for Great Purposes from the Kwánsem Yakwá Garden.Photo credit: Jeremy Bittermann/JBSA
When Meyer Memorial Trust decided to construct a brand-new head office, the Oregon foundation wished to produce an area that exhibited its vision and values.
” Meyers mission centers on sustainability, justice and equity, and we see our new head office as the personification of our mission,” stated Phoebe OLeary, director of company systems and operations at Meyer. “Our hope is that the structure will be an inviting space for us to authentically get in touch with our community and the wider community to develop positive change across Oregon.”
From dealing with companies owned by women and people of color to breaking down hierarchies through the structures style, equity provided the foundation for Meyers brand-new headquarters and ultimately guided every element of the work.
Historic background and community rootsBy choosing to transfer to the Albina community (the historic heart of Portlands Black community), Meyer looked for to be closer to a number of the companies it supports– and to produce “a space for recovery, reflecting and inviting on the history of the area, however likewise truly looking forward to the future,” stated Anyeley Hallová, partner at the realty designer task.
Developed by Indigenous artists and artists of color, the buildings art work tells visual stories of the regional community, varied groups and various areas of Oregon. This piece featured in the welcome area is entitled “Veiled Prophet/Profit” by Addoley Dzegede.Photo credit: Shawn Records
Strong collaborationHallová and job put together a varied leadership group that was committed to making Meyers vision of a sustainable, equitable building a reality.
To start the style procedure, the task group held an early design charrette to figure out a standard energy usage intensity (EUI) target and how to attain it. EUI is a simple measure of a structures energy use, expressed as the energy usage per square foot each year.
” Having guidance from Energy Trust was truly useful because Meyer had high objectives; we understood we were opting for Path to Net Zero,” stated Chandra Robinson, principal at LEVER Architecture. “Working with Energy Trust indicated that we understood what we had to do to get there.”
Energy Trust offered technical assistance and $97,000 in rewards to help Meyers new head offices end up being Oregons very first Platinum LEED v4 New Construction structure. “Path to Net Zero really emphasizes excellent, smart style,” said Nicole Isle, chief sustainability strategist at Glumac. “It also assists to get those sustainability strategies throughout the line.”
Sustainable featuresA 53-kilowatt solar range is expected to produce about 66,600 kilowatt hours each year, while an eGauge energy-metering system displays the buildings energy usage and solar electric production in real time through a display screen in the lobby.
” It actually encourages good operation, ongoing tracking and efficiency transparency,” said Isle. “Its a great method to show how the structure is similar to a living, breathing being– its producing energy from nature and using it and demonstrating how its balancing out the structure use.”
The building is also created to decrease indoor water utilize through low-flow plumbing components, and outside water utilize through native and drought-tolerant plants, in addition to effective irrigation systems.
To attain and preserve exceptional indoor air quality, it uses a variable refrigerant flow system paired with a devoted outside air unit, improving health and the general wellbeing of the workers who operate in the building.
Welcome location and prefunction space.Photo credit: Jeremy Bittermann/JBSA
Furthermore, 85% of the timber utilized in Meyers brand-new headquarters fulfilled the definition of “sustainable wood,” with 49% certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), encouraging climate-smart forestry. The wood was sourced from regional FSC-certified companies owned by individuals of color and/or located in rural neighborhoods.
An emphasis on equity “If a structure is implied to be extremely sustainable, but it leaves out the participation or stories of ladies and people of color, can it really be referred to as sustainable?” said Ali ONeill, project supervisor at ONeill/ Walsh Community Builders. “Meyers vision was to have not simply a technically sustainable building, but a really inclusive, fair, sustainable building.”
Lunchroom and roofing system garden terrace featuring custom-made mural “Kapasháayat Tkwalá” by artist Toma Villa.Photo credit: Jeremy Bittermann/JBSA
Equity is highlighted in the interior. Every workspace has access to sunlight, and skylights were contributed to areas with no windows, such as the lactation room. The very best views in the structure are from typical areas, such as the lunchroom and library, rather than executives offices– additional promoting equity and breaking down hierarchies.
Hallová stated the jobs sustainability and equity objectives were always adjoined. She describes sustainability as a stool that makes up 3 legs: environmental sustainability, social sustainability and economic sustainability.
” For a building to be genuinely sustainable,” she stated. “It does not work if you do not look at all three legs of the stool and make sure that theyre solid.”
Check Out the Meyer Memorial Trust case study to read more. And if youre preparing a new building or major restoration job to benefit your local community, make sure to have a look at our resources and rewards or call us at 1.877.467.0930.