THA Architecture Inc.

Portland, Oregon

'I often have the feeling that what I want to achieve is unattainable, but the project that THA delivered is even more than I dreamed I could achieve.' ' Neal Keny-Guyer, CEO Mercy Corps

Command central for a global team of 4,000 professionals who run disaster relief and community development programs in over 40 countries, Mercy Corps needs an efficient base of operations. But its Portland, Oregon, “headquarters” was scattered in six leased locations around the city. “We were ready to build a home that would consolidate the different aspects of the organization and reflect our values,” recalls CEO Neal Keny-Guyer. Inasmuch as these values include accountability, sustainable resource management, and the wise allocation of funds, the 30-year-old nonprofit agency negotiated the affordable acquisition of a blighted riverside landmark, the Packer-Scott building (circa 1892), from the Portland Development Commission — part of an urban improvement initiative for the economically challenged downtown neighborhood it occupied.

Charged with the sensitive renovation, the Portland firm THA Architecture worked with Mercy Corps to create a scheme that would qualify for LEED certification, as well as the tax credits and grants needed to bolster the reasonable purchase price and fund-raising profits. Maintaining the integrity of the existing 42,000-square-foot masonry structure, the architects nearly doubled its footprint and mass with a terra-cotta-clad addition that integrates with the historic property without mimicking it.

Then the design team worked with engineers to cut a wide opening in the connecting wall for a free flow between the old and new sections. Their flexible strategy includes a ground-floor community center, bike racks, and an office for another nonprofit foundation that bought a small piece of the building.

Adjacent to the Saturday market, and near public transportation, the new headquarters has been a catalyst for both Portland and Mercy Corps. “Employees from different divisions now work side by side, and the building presents the right impression to visiting donors,” says Keny-Guyer. Delivered on time and on budget, he concludes, “The project is more than I dreamed we could achieve.”

Architect:
THA Architecture Inc.
733 SW Oak Street
Portland, Oregon 97205
p: 503.227.1254
f: 503.227.7818

Location:
Portland, Oregon

Total construction cost: $21.3 Million

Gross square footage:
83,032 sq.ft.

People

Owner:
Mercy Corps
3015 SW First Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97201

Architect:
THA Architecture Inc.
733 SW Oak Street
Portland, Oregon 97205
p: 503.227.1254
f: 503.227.7818

Personnel in architect's firm who should receive special credit:
Design Principal: Thomas Hacker, FAIA
Principal in Charge: Will Dann, AIA
Project Designer: David Keltner, AIA
Project Architect: Laura Klinger
Project Architect during Construction Administration: Mike Meade, AIA
Design Team: Amie Bates
Design Team: Jake Freauff
Design Team: Steve Simpson, AIA
Design Team: Aaron Whalton
Design Team: Rose Vadnais
Design Team: Jamie Watson, AIA
Quality Control: Charles Dorn, AIA
Specifications Writer: Alexander Lungershausen, AIA

Interior designer
DECA Inc.
935 SE Alder Street
Portland, Oregon 97214

Engineer(s):
Glumac International, MEP
320 SW Washington, Suite 200
Portland, OR  97204

David Evans & Associates, Inc., Civil Engineer
2100 S.W. River Parkway
Portland, OR 97201

ABHT Structural Engineers, Structural
1640 N.W. Johnson
Portland, OR  97209

Consultant(s)
Landscape:
Walker Macy
111 SW Oak Street, Suite 200
Portland, OR  97205

Lighting:
Architectural Lighting Design
300 Brannan Street #405
San Francisco, CA   94107

Acoustical:
Sextant Group
Riverside Center for Innovation
730 River Avenue, Suite 600
Pittsburgh, PA  15212-5936

Other:
Historic Architectural Consultant:
Peter Meijer Architect
710 NE 21st Ave
Suite 200
Portland, OR 97232

Independent Project Manager:
Shiels Obletz Johnsen, Inc.
1140 S.W. 11th Avenue, Suite 500
Portland, OR 97205

Cost Estimating:
Architectural Cost Consultants
8060 S.W. Pfaffle Street, Suite 110
Tigard, OR 97223

General contractor: Walsh Construction Co.

Photographer(s)
Interior images: Lara Swimmer Photography, 206.284.5213, lara@laraswimmerphoto.com
Exterior images: Jeff Amram Photography, 917.678.5855, jeff@jeffamram.com

CAD system, project management, or other software used: AutoCAD, SketchUp, Deltek

 

Products

Structural system
(Steel frame/concrete shear walls/shotcrete shear walls over existing masonry)

Exterior cladding
Clay Tile
Manufacturer: Moeding Keramik Fassaden

Distributor: Shildan Inc.
(Hollow Clay tile units; Dark red, 3 different sizes)

Clay Tile Shading System
Manufacturer: Moeding Keramik Fassaden

Distributor: Shildan Inc.
(Hollow Clay triangular baguette units; Dark red, 3 different sizes)

Masonry
Mutual Materials
(90% Imperial Red and 10% Inca pre-mixed)

Storefront
Kawneer
(TriFab 451T)

Metal/glass curtainwall
Kawneer
(1600 Wall System)

Wood Windows
Jeld-Wen
(Custom Wood Double Hung Windows)

Aluminum Panels
(1/8 inch Aluminum)

Aluminum Windows
Kawneer (6200 T)

Antigraffiti Coating
Evonik (Protectosil)

Glazing
Glass
Electrochromic Glass
(Sage Electrochromics)

Monitors
Kawneer
(6200 T)

Skylights
DearMor
(Aluminum Extrusions)

Doors
Wood doors
(Beech Veneer)

Metal Doors
(Stainless steel)

Roofing
Low-slope roofing
Siplast (Paradiene P-20/30 CR FR 1A)

Terrace deck
Siplast (Teranap)

Green roof
Siplast (Teranap)

Interior finishes
Cabinetwork/casework (P-lam)
Wilsonart Laminate
(Graphite Nebula)

Countertop (Stone)
Cesar Stone
(Quartz, uniform light grey)

Countertop (reclaimed wood)
(Reclaimed Doug fir)

Paints and stains
Benjamin Moore

Acoustic Paneling
Armstrong
(Custom Soundsoak)

Ceiling Panels
Armstrong
(Ultima Vector / Optima Vector)

Bathroom wall tile
Terragren
(Frost 109A, 4x8 wall, 6x8 cove)

Bathroom floor tile
Atlas Concorde
(Format Essential Protagonist)

Corridor floor tile
Atlas Concorde
(Format Essential Protagonist)

Flooring
Forbo
(614 Charcoal)

Flooring
Johnsonite
(Inertia/Toscano)

Walk off Mat
Hercules
(Nop 18 Taupe)

Carpet - Tile
Interface Flor
(Panorama)

Carpet - Tile
Shaw
(Repartee / Corded)

Furnishings
Roller Shades
Mechoshade
(1350 Ecoveil Series)

Office furniture
Reception furniture
Custom Fabrication
(Reclaimed Doug Fir)

Conveyance
Elevators/escalators
Kone
(Monospace/Ecospace)