Seattle-based real estate firm Unico Properties has long held sustainability as a cornerstone of their business philosophy. For Unico, whole-building efficiency is a resilient and attractive investment not only because it promotes human and environmental health, but also because it delivers long-term value by differentiating their business from the competition. They understand that sustainable practices increase tenant satisfaction by reducing operational costs, minimizing the risk of utility price fluctuations, and enhancing the comfort and health of indoor spaces.

After acquiring downtown Portland’s iconic Galleria building, Unico recognized the opportunity to modernize the building’s interworking systems and create a high-quality space aligned with both tenant expectations and their sustainability standards. With the 1910 five-story building presenting an opportunity for modernization and enhancement, Unico knew they could leverage LEED certification standards and whole-building efficiency strategies—as well as incentives from Energy Trust of Oregon—to reposition the Galleria as a premier property.

Unico focused on how each element of the building works together to elevate the entire building’s performance, prioritizing efficient systems and strategic envelope improvements. The Galleria building is now a paragon of efficiency designed to do three things: achieve an Energy Use Intensity 80% lower than a typical modern building in the U.S., meet Energy Trust of Oregon’s Path to Net Zero status, and earn LEED v4 Core & Shell Platinum and Fitwel 2-Star certifications.

To raise the bar of energy-efficient design and performance throughout the state, Energy Trust of Oregon offers cash incentives and resources for ambitious projects like the Galleria building. By meeting the target Energy Use Index of 29 kBtu per sq. ft. per year, Unico maximized available Energy Trust of Oregon incentives to help offset the costs of Galleria’s whole-building upgrades.

“Energy Trust of Oregon’s Path to Net Zero program aligns with our company vision and sustainability goals,” said Ty Barker, Vice President Real Estate Services, Unico. “With incentive opportunities like this and increasingly elevated regulatory standards, it just makes good business sense to stay ahead of state energy codes and take a whole-building approach to design.”

Unico conducts business with an understanding that high-quality tenants are attracted by sustainable design that delivers better thermal comfort and reduced viral risk to tenants.

“Healthy and comfortable environments contribute to occupant well-being and productivity, which directly supports their business success,” said Anita Jeerage, Vice President Sustainability & ESG, Unico. “This makes our properties more desirable and cultivates long-term relationships. That’s why we seek out certifications from organizations like LEED and Fitwel—to ensure we’re providing our tenants with the very best air quality, comfort, and active design features.”

With tenant comfort as a guiding light in their decision-making, Unico was able to transform a historic building into a high-performing, occupant-friendly space. And by using the latest whole-building efficiency design principles and technologies, they were able to preserve and modernize one of downtown Portland’s landmark buildings at the same time.

Project partners:

SERA Architects
Walen Construction
Fortis Construction
Ecotope