Developer: Gerding Edlen
Designer: GBD Architects
Size: 6 acres (2.4 ha)
Located in Portland, Oregon’s Pearl District, the Brewery Blocks mixed-use development is a thriving and sustainable urban community. It includes seven buildings on five contiguous city blocks and contains retail, office, residential, cultural, and performing-arts spaces totaling more than 1.7 million square feet (158,000 sq m). The blocks have become an urban destination, enlivened with vibrant streetscapes and connected to the rest of the city by a smart transportation system.
The project was built with intentionality, incorporating the principles of place making, sustainability, preservation, and financial viability. The developer undertook an innovative mixed-use approach, using public/private partnerships and a focus on preserving historical integrity. Formerly, the site was home to the Blitz-Weinhard Brewery, which was located in an area that was virtually devoid of businesses, housing, and pedestrians. This deteriorating warehouse district was transformed into a revitalized neighborhood, preserving iconic structures and turning the historic Portland Armory into the Gerding Theater.
