Gerding Theater at the Armory

Lessons Learned

This project involved an unusual number of consultants with specialized expertise. While the complexity of the project could make this coordination difficult, it also encouraged project members to view their efforts as supporting a large, ambitious, and worthy goal. The sense of pride and stewardship for restoring a community treasure was evident throughout the process.

The ambitious goals for building performance and LEED certification required more design time; however, the construction schedule required the process to keep moving forward. Concrete had to be poured while critical design decisions were still being made. To meet specific LEED requirements, many systems were still being designed late in the construction documents phase.

An in-depth commissioning plan was carried out by a third party to ensure that the building would function as intended. The window to correct issues was very short, however, given the building flushout schedule and the approach of opening night for Portland Center Stage’s first performance in its new home.

The many different experiences and perspectives of working on this project were documented and presented to the community in a book called “Voices of the Armory,” published by a local nonprofit called Friends of the Armory. Woven into the story, told by the Portland Center Stage director, are accounts from the lenders, fundraisers, developers, designers, engineers, sustainability consultants, contractors, metal workers, former visitors to the building, government officials, and even fans of professional wrestling.

The building is intended to serve as an educational tool. Multiple tours were offered during construction, and tours will continue regularly to provide insight into the project's green design. Educational displays and interactive media installations describe the history of the building as well as issues of environmental responsibility and historic preservation as told by industry and civic leaders. In just the first few months following its reopening, hundreds of visitors toured the building, engaged in lectures, and participated in community-outreach ventures.

Much of the success of the project in terms of performance and satisfaction can be attributed to a client who became so informed and active in the design process. As the last of six major buildings in the Brewery Blocks redevelopment, the Gerding Theater benefited from a design team with a great deal of experience working together, which made the process more collaborative than usual.

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Our thanks to the ENERGY STAR program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and to the U.S. Department of Energy, and to BuildingGreen, Inc. for hosting the submission and judging forms.

For more information about the AIA/COTE Top Ten Green Projects, contact AIA/COTE. For help on how to use this Web site, contact .