Rainbow Landings and Gold at the End: Oregon’s Rise to the Top in Sustainable Building Practices
In the grand Pacific Northwest region, Oregon paints a stunning picture. From the foggy shores of Astoria to the majestic Crater Lake, from the quirky charm of Portland to the high desert beauty of Bend, this place is not just a pretty face. Oregon has become a shining example of sustainable building practices, and let’s dish on how we’ve become the green pioneers of the construction world.
The Early Gift of Abundance
In a state like ours, with such a wealth of natural resources, it was only natural that sustainability became our creed. When you’ve got forests like ours, kissing the sky with ancient Douglas Firs and Hemlocks, you understand the value of what nature provides. The timber industry has been a considerable part of Oregon’s economy since our pioneer days. Yet, we always knew that to respect our forests is to recognize the need for sustainable practices. Companies like Collins Companies, based in Wilsonville, have embraced this belief for decades, leading the way by obtaining their first Forest Stewardship Council certification back in the ’90s.
The Green Building Wave
The late ’90s and early 2000s saw a wave of change in our beautiful state. The days of building anything that merely served the purpose were waning. Inspired by the serene landscapes and breathtaking beauty of Multnomah Falls, Mount Hood, and the Columbia River Gorge, architects and builders in Oregon started pulling up their flannel sleeves and engaged in more thoughtful practices. The green building trend took off in earnest, and Oregon certainly wasn’t going to be left in the rearview mirror.
Projects started popping up like morels after a Spring rain. Remember when the Jean Vollum Natural Capital Center (also known as Ecotrust Building) was renovated in Portland’s Pearl District? That building became one of the first historic renovations in the country to receive the LEED Gold certification. It was all about focusing on energy efficiency, promoting renewable and clean energy, and ensuring each building had an environmentally friendly impact – quite different from getting excited about the opening of a new Burgerville, but just as quintessentially Oregon!
The City of Roses Joins the Green Crusade
As the evergreen heart of Oregon, Portland took the lead and emerged as a leader in the U.S. green building scene. They say the city gets its nickname ‘City of Roses’ from the many rose gardens, but it’s easy to imagine that the increasing number of LEED-certified buildings may have to do something with it. The iconic Portland State University’s LEED Platinum Student Recreation Center or the cosmopolitan Wieden+Kennedy building have contributed to making Portland the city with the second-highest number of LEED-certified buildings per capita. Now that’s an accomplishment rankling higher than a perfect Powell’s book categorization system!
The Leading Edge: Lose the Car, Save the Environment
Setting the stage for sustainable buildings is one facet of the gem that is Oregon’s green movement. Our cities followed suit with urban planning, embracing smart growth and biodiversity. We don’t shun our “Keep Portland Weird” label – we love the quirkiness as much as the “where’d the ocean go?” minus tides on the Oregon Coast.
Our journey towards sustainability has even sparked nation-leading legislation. In 2019, Oregon passed the HB 2001 Bill that allows for ‘middle housing’ like duplexes, triplexes, and cottage clusters in cities across the state. These housing styles encourage shared walls, which reduce construction materials and energy use. Ain’t that far sighted than a gopher in the High Desert!
Wrapping It Up Oregon-style
So there you have it. From responsibly harvested timber to cutting edge design and legislation, Oregon has carved out a path to being a major player in the world of green building. We’ve hustled and grappled, much like our debut every spring with the threat of Mount St. Helens ash falling from the sky or the seemingly eternal quest for sunshine. But it was all worth it, as our lovely, loopy, and absolutely beautiful state leads the way in sustainable building practices.
So go ahead! Grab a cup of Stumptown coffee, put on those groovy boots, and explore the innovative, sustainable marvels around you. Celebrate the Oregon way, always appreciating the ingenuity that makes our state the exceptional place it is.