City Editor Cambrie here. Earlier this week, a friend of mine pointed to the Jean Vollum Natural Capital Center in the Pearl District and asked if I knew its history. Admittedly, I did not — so I did a little digging.
The structure was originally built as a warehouse in 1895 for building supplies distributor J. McCracken Company. Portland-based environmental nonprofit Ecotrust bought the 70,000-sqft building in 1998 with a donation from philanthropist and board member Jean Vollum.
The property’s renovation marked a dramatic win for urban renewal: developers used recycled and reclaimed materials from the original structure and also created an ecoroof to filter rainwater and capture solar energy.
Completed in 2001, the Natural Capital Center was the first historic redevelopment in the country to receive a Gold-level LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
Portland’s “most iconic green building” is now a mixed-use hub for private events, shopping, and dining, and serves as Ecotrust’s headquarters.
