The Oregon Sustainability Center will drive innovation and collaboration as the region's sustainability hub. Built to the strictest green building guidelines, its halls will welcome and nurture collaborative sustainable business practices, sustainability-related university research and education, environmental and energy policy, workforce development initiatives and innovative government programs.

OSC itself will be one of the most technologically advanced, state of the art commercial buildings on the planet, symbolizing Oregon’s leadership in green design, engineering and real estate development. It is planned to be the first large scale building to achieve the Cascadia Region Green Building Council’s Living Building Challenge: a rigorous standard that requires net-zero energy and water consumption and net-zero carbon production.

Throughout its life, OSC will be a living laboratory of state of the art technologies and best practices. With support from Oregon BEST, it will accelerate the commercialization of Oregon-based products and services. OSC will be not only a hub for collaboration, but also a vehicle for innovation.

What it is: When opened, will be one of the world’s highest performing commercial buildings and a living laboratory of state-of-the-art sustainability technologies and best practices.

How it accelerates sustainability: Acts as the region’s sustainability hub to nurture collaborative sustainable business practices, research and education, environmental and energy policy, workforce development initiatives and other innovative government programs. As the first large-scale building to meet the Living Building Challenge, the world’s most rigorous green building certification, the Center will help position Portland as a national leader in green building practice.

Who’s involved: Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, Portland Development Commission, Oregon University System, Portland Community College and the Oregon Living Building Initiative (a consortium of leading regional nonprofits and businesses).

Our role: Guide and shape the research, commercialization, and outreach and education program and coordinate the fundraising and communications strategy.

In January 2009, a Request for Proposals was issued by PDC and Oregon University System to guide the design and construction of the building. A team led by Gerding Edlen Development conducted a feasibility study this spring. PoSI will work with a Steering Committee to create a business plan and programming strategy for the Center in 2009. The new Center is expected to begin construction in Portland the first quarter of 2010 and be completed by 2012.

Check out the website for more information.

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