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By Michael Adams
Photography by Bruce Buck Photography
Portland's Meier & Frank building has long been one of the city's architectural highlights. Opened in 1857, it became a beloved department store and subsequently was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, thanks to owner Sage Hospitality and the design firm ForrestPerkins, the building is taking on a new life as the Nines, a Starwood Luxury Collection hotel occupying the top nine floors. (Its bottom five belong to Macy's.)
According to Cliff Tuttle, senior vice president of ForrestPerkins, the Nines' style embraces what the firm has coined "nostalgic modern." "This is an approach," says Tuttle, "that begins with the boldness and clarity of modern design concepts blended with the infusion of traditional forms, such as a Louis XIV chair or a turned table leg." Tuttle and Co. incorporated the style throughout the public spaces as well as the guestrooms.
But it was the property's eco-friendly aspects that proved to be the greatest challenge. "Many people feel that if it's eco-friendly, it has to look like a treehouse," he says. "When we began, there was very little available [green] product for the hospitality market. Throughout the process, we were able to educate ourselves as well as the manufacturers as to what we needed."
Among the hotel's features contributing to the goal of LEED certification: energy-efficient lighting fixtures; low-flow plumbing fixtures, including dual-flush toilets in all guestrooms and public restrooms; low-VOC finishes; and green housekeeping procedures, including waste recycling and the use of "Green Seal" certified products. Tuttle also points to the hotel's art collection as adding to its green bona fides. "Thanks to art consultant Paige Powell," he says, "we connect to the community with a stunning array of local artwork."
Cost was also a factor facing the owners and designers. "Many commodities were quoted as being double the budget; but as we moved forward, we worked with vendors to determine ways to obtain these aspects and still be within budget," says Tuttle.
In fact, SERA Architects found that certification cost a lot less than many think: only an added combined 1.2 percent hard and soft cost premium to pursue LEED Silver, and after state incentives, that number drops to 0.2 percent. Plus, notes lead architect Gary Golla, the Nines will save more than $1 million in utility costs within its first decade of operation. Says Golla: "The question now is not quantifying the added cost of green building, but identifying the added value."
www.forrestperkins.com; www.serapdx.com; www.thenines.com
The Nines, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Portland, Oregon
Owner: Sage Hospitality
Architecture Firm: SERA Architects, Portland, Oregon
Architecture Project Team: Gary Golla, Logan Cravens, and Michael Miller
Interior Design Firm: ForrestPerkins, Washington, DC
Interior Design Project Team: Clifford Tuttle, John Carhart, Rebecca Brownlee, Will McGovern, Diane Kliebenstein, Javid Shirazi, and Ashley Roesler
Contractor: Hoffman Construction
Purchasing Firm: Benjamin West
Lighting Consultant: Pivotal Lighting
Engineering: PAE Engineers
Art Consultant: Paige Powell
Ground Level Lobby
Lighting: Illumination Lighting
Area Rug: Soroush Custom Rugs
Drapery: Brunschwig & Fils
Lobby
Casegoods: Lily Jack
Softgoods: Lily Jack and JLF/lone meadow
Fabrics: Edelman Leather, Robert Allen Contract, Andrew Murihead & Son Limited, Manuel Canovas Inc., Fabricut Contract, Tiger Imports, Hines & Company, Rist Corporation, and Osborne & Little
Guestrooms/Junior Suites/Hospitality Suites
Casegoods: American of Martinsville and Mark David
Lighting: Illumination Lighting, Hallmark Lighting, and Chapman Lamps
Carpet: Durkan Hospitality and Merit
Prefunction/Meeting Rooms
Casegoods: Lily Jack
Softgoods: Lily Jack, JLF
Lighting: Hallmark Lighting, Illumination Lighting
Carpet: Burtco
Wallcovering: Innovations in Wallcovering Inc, Genesys Wallcovering, JMLynne
Fabrics: Pindler & Pindler, Osborne & Little, Edelman Leather, Kravet Inc., Brunschwig & Fils, Fabricut Contract
Drapery Fabrication-Virginia Quilting
Ballroom
Stack Chairs: MTS Seating
Lighting: Illumination Lighting
Carpet: Burtco
Wallcovering: Genesys Wallcovering
Vice Presidential Suite
Casegoods: American of Martinsville and Mark David
Carpet: Bentley Prince Street
Wallcovering: Seabrook Wallcovering, JMLynne, and Eykon Wallcovering
Presidential Suite
Lighting: Hallmark Lighting, Nulco, and Baker
Area Rugs: Soroush Custom Rugs
Corridors
Casegoods: Mark David, Mitchell Gold/Bob Williams
Softgoods: JLF
Lighting: Nulco
Carpet: Durkan
Wallcovering: Eykon Wallcovering
Fabrics: Fabricut Contract, Kravet Inc., Osborne & Little, Edelman Leather
Club Lounge
Casegoods: Drexel Heritage, Baker, American of Martinsville
Softgoods: Lily Jack
Lighting: Robert Abbey
Carpet: Durkan
Wallcovering: Lanark, Eykon Wallcovering
Fabrics: DesignTex, Brentano Fabrics, Holly Hunt, Tiger Imports, Moore & Giles, Innovations, Pollack & Associates, Rodolph, Spinneybeck Leather, Kravet Inc., Cowtan & Tout, Pierre Frey, Glant Textile Corp, Cortina Leather, Drapery Fabrication-Virginia Quilting
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Dressed to the Nines
March 24, 2009Photography by Bruce Buck Photography
Portland's Meier & Frank building has long been one of the city's architectural highlights. Opened in 1857, it became a beloved department store and subsequently was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, thanks to owner Sage Hospitality and the design firm ForrestPerkins, the building is taking on a new life as the Nines, a Starwood Luxury Collection hotel occupying the top nine floors. (Its bottom five belong to Macy's.)
But it was the property's eco-friendly aspects that proved to be the greatest challenge. "Many people feel that if it's eco-friendly, it has to look like a treehouse," he says. "When we began, there was very little available [green] product for the hospitality market. Throughout the process, we were able to educate ourselves as well as the manufacturers as to what we needed."
Cost was also a factor facing the owners and designers. "Many commodities were quoted as being double the budget; but as we moved forward, we worked with vendors to determine ways to obtain these aspects and still be within budget," says Tuttle.
www.forrestperkins.com; www.serapdx.com; www.thenines.com
The Nines, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Portland, Oregon
Owner: Sage Hospitality
Architecture Firm: SERA Architects, Portland, Oregon
Architecture Project Team: Gary Golla, Logan Cravens, and Michael Miller
Interior Design Firm: ForrestPerkins, Washington, DC
Interior Design Project Team: Clifford Tuttle, John Carhart, Rebecca Brownlee, Will McGovern, Diane Kliebenstein, Javid Shirazi, and Ashley Roesler
Contractor: Hoffman Construction
Purchasing Firm: Benjamin West
Lighting Consultant: Pivotal Lighting
Engineering: PAE Engineers
Art Consultant: Paige Powell
Ground Level Lobby
Lighting: Illumination Lighting
Area Rug: Soroush Custom Rugs
Drapery: Brunschwig & Fils
Lobby
Casegoods: Lily Jack
Softgoods: Lily Jack and JLF/lone meadow
Fabrics: Edelman Leather, Robert Allen Contract, Andrew Murihead & Son Limited, Manuel Canovas Inc., Fabricut Contract, Tiger Imports, Hines & Company, Rist Corporation, and Osborne & Little
Casegoods: American of Martinsville and Mark David
Lighting: Illumination Lighting, Hallmark Lighting, and Chapman Lamps
Carpet: Durkan Hospitality and Merit
Prefunction/Meeting Rooms
Casegoods: Lily Jack
Softgoods: Lily Jack, JLF
Lighting: Hallmark Lighting, Illumination Lighting
Carpet: Burtco
Wallcovering: Innovations in Wallcovering Inc, Genesys Wallcovering, JMLynne
Fabrics: Pindler & Pindler, Osborne & Little, Edelman Leather, Kravet Inc., Brunschwig & Fils, Fabricut Contract
Drapery Fabrication-Virginia Quilting
Ballroom
Stack Chairs: MTS Seating
Lighting: Illumination Lighting
Carpet: Burtco
Wallcovering: Genesys Wallcovering
Vice Presidential Suite
Casegoods: American of Martinsville and Mark David
Carpet: Bentley Prince Street
Wallcovering: Seabrook Wallcovering, JMLynne, and Eykon Wallcovering
Presidential Suite
Lighting: Hallmark Lighting, Nulco, and Baker
Area Rugs: Soroush Custom Rugs
Casegoods: Mark David, Mitchell Gold/Bob Williams
Softgoods: JLF
Lighting: Nulco
Carpet: Durkan
Wallcovering: Eykon Wallcovering
Fabrics: Fabricut Contract, Kravet Inc., Osborne & Little, Edelman Leather
Casegoods: Drexel Heritage, Baker, American of Martinsville
Softgoods: Lily Jack
Lighting: Robert Abbey
Carpet: Durkan
Wallcovering: Lanark, Eykon Wallcovering
Fabrics: DesignTex, Brentano Fabrics, Holly Hunt, Tiger Imports, Moore & Giles, Innovations, Pollack & Associates, Rodolph, Spinneybeck Leather, Kravet Inc., Cowtan & Tout, Pierre Frey, Glant Textile Corp, Cortina Leather, Drapery Fabrication-Virginia Quilting
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