Sage Seeks LEED for Historic Hotel Project
PORTLAND — Sage Hospitality Resources is seeking LEED certification for a $118 million, environmentally sustainable conversion of the historic Meier & Frank department store.
The Denver-based hospitality company is renovating the upper nine floors of the 1908 building to create The Nines — a 334-room hotel, which will become part of Starwood’s luxury collection hotels.
Boasting a glazed terra cotta façade that will be completely restored during the conversion project, the original 15-story structure is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, meaning the new hotel development will earn significant LEED credits for its sympathetic renovation, preservation and repurposing of the A.E. Doyle-designed landmark.
As part of the renovations, the entire structure will be seismically upgraded using steel-braced frames with viscous dampers to provide structural flexibility, shock absorption and vibration-load capacity, officials say.
The viscous damper system, which is less disruptive to the existing structure of a building than other seismic solutions, also enhanced the developers’ ability to maintain the structure’s historic architectural integrity.
Designed by Portland-based Sera architects, the restoration project will incorporate a comprehensive set of environmentally sustainable design measures and construction practices intended to yield LEED Silver certification, officials say.
With the deconstruction and preparation phase well under way, approximately 95 percent of project debris — more than 19 million pounds — has been diverted from landfill, officials say. More than 7,000 square feet of concrete and steel was removed to create a 100-foot atrium that will anchor the hotel lobby.
Two new energy-efficient, mechanical electrical and fire/safety systems and the installation of energy-efficient light fixtures will help optimize the hotel’s energy efficiency to 26 percent below code standards, officials say. Six hundred of the building’s inoperable windows will be sealed and insulated to prevent exterior-air infiltration, reduce energy consumption and enhance air quality.
The hotel will purchase electricity from renewable energy sources to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Officials estimate renewable-energy contracting will remove approximately 6 million pounds of greenhouse gas emissions annually — equivalent to taking more than 530 cars off the road.
Water-efficient plumbing fixtures will be installed throughout the hotel, reducing annual water consumption by 33 percent, officials say. Guest rooms will feature dual-flush toilets and low-flow lavatory aerators, which will save an estimated 400,000 gallons of water annually.
During construction and ongoing maintenance, low-VOC adhesives, sealants, paints and carpeting will be used through out the hotel to enhance interior air quality. The hotel will implement a green housekeeping policy, including the use of only Green Seal-certified cleaning products, designed to further promote a healthy environment for guests and staff.
The building’s five lower floors will be consolidated to house a Macy’s department store. The development project is scheduled for completion in summer 2008.