Portland, Oregon
Located in Portland’s Albina neighborhood, The Meyer Memorial Trust Headquarters by LEVER Architecture with 2.ink Studio is a platform for advancing Meyer’s initiatives across the state, supported by a design that expresses the Foundation’s commitment to equity and sustainability.
Meyer Memorial Trust is a private foundation that invests in organizations, communities, ideas, and efforts that contribute to a flourishing and equitable Oregon.
The new campus’ building program includes an engagement center for public programs, mission library, cafe-style event space and roof garden terrace, workspace for 50, meeting rooms, and coworking space for partners.
For its inclusive and sustainable design, Meyer Memorial Trust Headquarters has recently been awarded a 2022 American Architecture Award Honorable Mention, by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.
To strengthen connections between the Foundation and the communities it serves, Meyer’s ground floor is designed as a “front porch.”
Inside, the focal point of the building is the Center for Great Purposes, a 100-seat convening center for public programs and collaborations with partner organizations.
Made from a regional wood product called Mass Plywood, the Center is an indoor/outdoor event space that opens to an educational garden.
The landscape design acknowledges local ecology, community history, and regional identity, serving as an educational setting for staff and visitors.
Indigenous plant species were selected because of their historical significance as a primary food, medicinal or commodity resource for Columbia River tribes.
A garden marker in the Kwánsǝm Yakwá Garden expresses the concept so steadily articulated by Native people, “we’ve always been here” in Chinook Wawa.
The building thoughtfully incorporates design thinking that accommodates various levels of physical ability, and is inviting to all regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or age.
Examples include a bottom-up approach to design and decision-making with participation of the majority of Meyer staff at every stage; equitable distribution of common amenities and windows throughout; going above and beyond ADA requirements; furniture that accommodates different body types and physical abilities; diversity of cultures and languages reflected in messaging, signage, and artwork.
Reflecting a commitment to diverse representation and equitable outcomes across its workforce, Meyer developed rigorous participation goals and worked with the project team to maximize opportunities for BIPOC and woman-owned businesses: 39 percent participation for the design team and 55 percent participation for the construction team.
The project connects sustainable building design with social equity and community development, demonstrating the synergistic relationship that can be developed between these goals.
In line with environmental objectives, the project achieved LEED v4 Platinum certification and is enrolled in the Path to Net Zero with Energy Trust of Oregon.
The design for the new headquarters employs a number of strategies to achieve these ambitious certifications, including solar PV panels, an energy efficient building enclosure and HVAC system, on-site stormwater management, regional materials, and native plantings.
The building uses 30 percent less energy and with the 50kW solar array, consumes 50 percent less energy when compared to a conventional code structure in Oregon.
The building uses 35 percent less water indoors and 80 percent less water for irrigation.
A dynamic filtration system and activated carbon filter media reduce air particulates, eliminate odors from entering the building, and create healthier indoor air quality for staff and visitors alike.
Project: Meyer Memorial Trust Headquarters
Architects: LEVER Architecture
Lead Architects: Chandra Robinson, Thomas Robinson, Cecily Ryan, and George-Michael Rusch
Landscape Architects: 2.ink Studio
Structural Engineers: KPFF Consulting Engineers
Civil Engineers: Standridge Design
MEP EngineerS and LEED Consultant: Glumac
Experiential Designers: Ditroen
General Contractor: O’Neill/Walsh Community Builders
Client: Meyer Memorial Trust
Photographers: Jeremy Bittermann
