CREJ

March 2020 \ BUILDING DIALOGUE \ 45 involves connecting inwardly focused and sealed environ- ments to nature and the outdoors. The 10-story building at 1551 Wewatta was completed in 2002 as the headquarters of Gates Corp. Owner Bentall Kennedy engaged Tryba Architects to add new amenities to the existing property in order to appeal to a new gen- eration of tenants. The design team expanded the lobby, adding greater vertical height and a new all-glass façade that follows the s-curve of the existing building. The glazing is framed to reflect the language of the building, but with a new level of transparency that animates the street and better connects with the surrounding urban context. The team also added a large new amenity terrace on what was the fourth-floor roof. A new stair has been carved through the building to allow for terrace egress. Further strengthening the connection to nature, the de- sign includes an intensive green roof with substantial trees, shade structures, a turfed activity area and a se- ries of well-defined outdoor rooms for tenants, providing space for outdoor meetings, work and relaxation. Finally, the design allows for new assembly space on the lower four floors of the building and enhanced entrances to street edge retail. The new lobby and elevated garden terrace distin- guished the well-located building in a competitive Lower Downtown leasing environment. In 2018, VF Corp. – the parent company of North Face and Smartwool – signed a 12-year lease for the entire 285,000-sf building. Supporting New Modes of Making and Collaboration The Glass Lab is a 46,000-sf former glass factory in the Port- land Innovation Quadrant. Owner ScanlanKemperBard recog- nizedthehistoryandopportunity inthepropertyandengaged Tryba to transform the vintage industrial building into a com- munity-oriented creative hub for the next generation of mak- ers and innovators. A strong sense of connection between the building’s industrious past and the creators of the future was created through a principled approach that balanced respect for the building’s 1950s warehouse-style architecture with the area’s forward-thinking ethos. Original building elements, including two overhead cranes and several intricate etched glass features, serve as a remind- er of Portland, Oregon’s, historic culture of innovation and pay homage to the original Morehouse Glass Co., which operated on the site for 46 years. The combination of exposed concrete, old-growth timber beams and tongue-and-groove wood floors further help maintain a raw, authentic feel throughout the buildingwhilehigh ceilings and large skylights keep the space naturally bright. Today, The Glass Lab offers 13 flexible suites ranging from 2,000-5,400 sf. Since its completion earlier this summer, the building has earned the Portland Business Journal reader’s choice award for Transformative Projects and earned the title of “Portland’s favorite newreal estate project.” The Value of Taking a Closer Look Fromhistoric landmarks tomidcenturywarehouses, there is great potential to create places of lasting value in the existing built environment. While demands for new buildings will al- ways exist, adaptive reuse is a critical component of a sustain- able approach to architecture, urban design and placemaking. The reinvention of existing buildings offers a sense of connec- tion to history and place, minimizes the carbon production associated with new construction and ensures the continued relevance of the existing urban fabric of our cities for genera- tions to come. jmcintyre@trybaarchitects.com ELEMENTS Adaptive Reuse Second-floor office suites feature storefront glass that face the lobby area. The Vault: Office tenants enjoy ground-floor retail amenities.