Recycling big-box retail into sustainable healthcare space

When Kaiser Permanente decided to open a medical office building in Portland, Ore., — and had committed the reuse of existing structures where possible - a former Circuit City store fit the bill.

The 32,000-square-foot structure in the Gateway neighborhood of East Portland was convenient with easy access to public transportation. Kaiser Permanente purchased the property out of receivership in 2010.

Kaiser Permanente’s move also supported Portland’s own strategy for the neighborhood, identified as one of five “eco districts” in the city that have been established through a coordinated effort between public and private entities to foster sustainable development practices through collaborative community partnerships, According to an article on the Healthcare Design magazine website.

A Portland-based project team of Soderstrom Architects (architecture, interiors, and sustainability design), Mazzetti (mechanical, electrical, and sustainability engineering), TM Rippey (structural and civil engineering), and Andersen Construction (general contracting) was assembled to tackle the goal of converting the big-box site into a more sustainable structure with LEED for Healthcare (LEED-HC) certification. The project presented challenges to the team as they determined what exactly they had to work with.

Read the article and view the photo gallery.