Edith Green-Wendell Wyatt Federal Building Modernization

Portland, Oregon

  • Services Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering
  • Market(s) Government
  • Sustainability LEED Platinum
  • Awards 2030 Challenge Design Award, Office category, AIA Portland, 2014
    Best Tall Building Award, Americas Region, Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), 2014
    AIA COTE Top Ten+ Award, 2016
    Technology in Architectural Practice (TAP) Award, 2014
    Merit Award, AIA Portland, 2014
    Top 10 Green Projects, Top Projects, 1st Place, Renovation, DJC Oregon, 2014
    Oregon Excellence in Concrete Awards, 2015
    GSA Design Awards, Honor Award, U.S. General Services Administration, 2014
    IES IA Awards (Illuminating Engineering Society, Illumination Award) | Portland, Oregon Section Award for Energy and Environment, 2014
  • Owner U.S. General Services Administration
  • Architect SERA Architects
    Cutler Andersen Architects
  • Contractor Howard S. Wright Construction
  • Collaborators Place Studio (Landscape Architect)
    PAE Consulting Engineers
    McKinstry Company
    Interface Engineering (MEP)
  • Team Portland, OR
Edith Green-Wendell Wyatt Federal Building Modernization

Opened in 1975, the Edith Green-Wendell Wyatt Federal Building in downtown Portland is home to 16 federal agencies and more than 1200 federal employees. This 18-story tower has more than 370,000sf of office space and occupies one full city block with two levels of basement and parking areas. KPFF provided structural and civil engineering design services for seismic evaluations and upgrades to completely modernize the existing building. Beginning in 2009 and completed in 2013, the modernization project added green building features, including new mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and data systems designed to make it one of the most energy efficient office buildings in the country.

To achieve optimal performance and economy, KPFF used advanced performance-based seismic analysis and design. A detailed BIM model, incorporating all existing structural frame elements, was developed for structural analysis and served as the basis for construction documents. The advanced analysis allowed designers to achieve the required performance at significantly reduced construction cost. The existing precast skin was removed and replaced with a glass curtain wall that permitted floor area to be added to the perimeter of each floor.

New grading and drainage around the building supports a new plaza over an existing substructure. Stormwater is filtered through landscaping and harvested for irrigation.

The facility achieved LEED Platinum certification for its use of cutting-edge sustainable design and technology.

Edith Green-Wendell Wyatt Federal Building Modernization

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