An abandoned Portland, Oregon warehouse becomes a model of sustainable design and home to Viewpoint Construction Software. PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On April 16, 2007, Viewpoint Construction Software™ will relocate its headquarters to RiverEast Center, a LEED Gold Certified building in Portland, Oregon. Myrna Hostetler, President of Viewpoint Construction Software, says the move will accommodate the company’s aggressive growth plans. “With our expanded product development and support efforts and Viewpoint’s growing customer base, RiverEast Center will help us attract new talent while providing state-of-the-art training facilities for our customers.” A former warehouse adjacent to the Hawthorne Bridge has been transformed to bring new life to the central eastside industrial area. The innovative public plaza includes the first shared “green street” in Portland to treat stormwater from both public and private runoff sources as well as a public art installation from reclaimed building façade elements. RiversEast LLC, formed between Jay Haladay, Chief Executive Officer of Portland-based software development company Coaxis (Viewpoint Construction Software is a division of Coaxis, Inc.), and Jeff Reaves, president of architect/engineering firm Group Mackenzie, developed the property as new, expanded headquarters for their respective companies. In addition to Coaxis and Group Mackenzie, tenants also include TS Consulting, a construction management and design/build firm; and SDC, mechanical and electrical engineering consultants. Haladay, whose companies develop industry-leading enterprise software solutions for the construction and food/beverage distribution markets, considers the move strategic. “Our most valuable asset is our employees. The move downtown makes it more convenient for them and provides an exciting, creative work environment on the river,” says Haladay. “Additionally, RiverEast Center offers us an easy-to-access, central location for business development programs as well as employee retention and recruitment efforts.” RiverEast Center will bring over 220 jobs to Portland. The former Holman Transfer Building was built in 1951 and served to transport products for Quaker Oats, Coca Cola and C&H Sugar for many years. The Portland Development Commission purchased the building in 2002, calling it, “a key site in the transformation of the city’s east bank.” The building is located in the Central Eastside Urban Renewal Area. Sustainable Showcase A multi-disciplinary design and engineering approach was employed to ensure that the design aesthetics of the Art Deco warehouse were not lost in the transformation into a sustainably designed and functional office environment. RiverEast Center is expected to achieve LEED Gold certification, one of the highest ratings for sustainable design from the U.S. Green Building Council. Key features: * Green Street: Clay Street has been turned into a public plaza, featuring Portland’s first example of shared facilities for treating public and private storm water. Rain water from the roof, Water Avenue, and the parking lot travels through artistic downspouts, storm water basins with native plantings and recycled building concrete into a privately maintained water quality facility before reaching the river. The innovative site development was designed collaboratively by GreenWorks Landscape Architects and Group Mackenzie and coordinated with many local agencies. Portland Bureau of Environmental Services provided grants to help accomplish project's goals that exceed minimum city standards. * Energy Efficiency: The entire south side of the building is a dynamic solar wall which uses a system of glass panels, baffles and shelves to alternatively capture and divert solar heat throughout the seasons. The solar wall, wide use of natural light, reflective white roof, special window glazing, energy efficient fixtures, and buying 100% green power reduces energy consumption to 51% less than code requires. * Reclaiming and Recycling: The project received funding from the Regional Arts and Culture Council (RACC) for a series of sculptures in the plaza, using large concrete slabs, cut out for windows and doors. The slabs reveal the impressions of old growth timber, used as forms for pouring the Art Deco structure. Over 95% of the concrete waste has been reclaimed for other purposes. Interior designers used sustainably harvested bamboo paneling and re-used much of the building’s existing doors and windows. The building presented a number of challenges: a dramatically sloped floor; traffic noise from two adjacent bridges; a brownfield from an old loading dock; and lack of space for systems infrastructure. About Viewpoint Construction Software: Viewpoint Construction Software™ has been committed to serving the construction industry with proven, leading-edge information-management solutions for more than 30 years, along with best-in-industry support. Viewpoint V6 Software™ integrates accounting, operations and project management information to help midrange and large-volume construction companies increase efficiency and profitability through information-driven decisions.
