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Vestas to move American HQ to larger Portland premises

Vestas intends its new building to attain a platinum standard of efficiency with solar power systems on its roof

The world’s largest wind turbine manufacturer is investing $66 million in a new sales and service headquarters for its North American operations.

Vestas said yesterday it will move around 400 employees from its four buildings in Portland, Oregon, into a new building also located in the Pacific Northwest city.

The Danish company is taking over the historic Meier & Frank Depot Building in the city’s Pearl District, which has been vacant since 2001.

Plans are to convert the building into a highly efficient LEED Platinum standard with use of energy efficiency systems and a rooftop solar power system, maintaining the historic facade of the building.

Construction should begin this October, with Vestas moving into the building in early 2012.

Growing

The 82-year-old building offers 172,000 square feet, giving Vestas space for 600 employees. A further 250 employees could be housed if parking space is subsequently converted to office space.

“We are making a long-term commitment to Portland,” said Martha Wyrsch, president of Vestas-American Wind Technology, Inc. “We are intent on growing. Our new headquarters gives us the flexibility to accommodate up to 600 employees.”

Vestas currently employs nearly 400 people in Portland, and plans to move staff from its primary building at 1881 SW Naito Parkway as well as two nearby buildings and its IT center on SW Washington Street into the new Pearl District building.

The company is planning on offering tenant and retail space to other organizations on its building’s first floor.

The building renovation team is led by Gerding Edlen Development, Inc., in association with GBD Architects, Glumac, KPFF, HHPR, Peter Meijer Architects, Skanska and Ankrom Moisan Architects.

Commenting on the planned new Vestas building, Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski said: “Our collective investments in this project will pay off now and in the future in the form of more green jobs in Portland. It also will establish a stronger renewable energy foundation for Oregon as a whole.”

Vestas has more than 2,400 employees in the USA and Canada, where it has now supplied more than 11,000 wind turbines.