Reviving a Renowned Architect’s Design

Built for the Oregonian newspaper in 1947,1320 Broadway was marketed as a vacant redevelopment opportunity as the newspaper decided to downsize and relocate its headquarters.

The building was originally designed by Pietro Belluschi, an internationally renowned architect from Portland. The concrete building has many unique features, including a grand lobby with a 24-foot-high ceiling (a classic Belluschi feature), a floor-to-floor ceiling height of 13 – 15 feet, multiple areas throughout the building with double-height ceilings, a generous window line providing great natural light and numerous opportunities to improve and add new rooftop terraces.

In December 2013, we were selected as the building’s buyer. After completing a significant portion of the due diligence, we brought in Clarion Partners as our partner and closed on the acquisition in September 2014. A $28 million core and shell renovation was completed in July 2016. The project required a complete interior gut and remodel, new windows, new mechanical systems and a robust package of building amenities. The renovation strategy was centered on exposing the original volumes in the building, embracing the mid-century modernist aesthetic and reconnecting the building to SW Broadway by adding street-front glass.

After leasing 96% of the building to three premier tenants, 1320 Broadway was put on the market and set a new per-square-foot record for Portland office buildings when it was acquired by Credit Suisse.

This project went on to win 2016 NAIOP Office Development of the Year.