Vestas, a producer of high-tech wind power systems, will move its North American sales and service headquarters into the historic Meier & Frank Depot Building in Portland’s Pearl District.

Image: Vestas

Wind power producer Vestas is renovating the Meier & Frank Depot building in Portland, adding an ecoroof terrace and solar array.

Image: Vestas

Vestas intends to maintain the historic integrity of the old Meier & Frank Depot Building’s facade in Portland’s Pearl District.

Gerding Edlen Development Inc. will develop the $66-million project, which is expected to break ground this month. Vestas plans to occupy the space in early 2012. The building will be designed with the intent to achieve LEED Platinum.

Built in 1928, the Meier & Frank Depot Building will undergo a complete historic renovation. When redeveloped, the building will be 172,000 sq ft that will include a 22,000-sq-ft addition on the fifth floor complete with an ecoroof terrace and gardens. Additionally, the building will have what is believed to be the largest roof-mounted solar energy array in Portland’s central business district.

Vestas will maintain the integrity of the building’s historic fa�ade, but will have contiguous, open work space on five floors and a central auditorium to accommodate up to 250 people. Features include a rainwater collection system, raised-access flooring with under-floor mechanical ventilation, insulated exterior walls and thermally insulated operable windows.

The building renovation team is comprised of GBD Architects, Glumac, KPFF, HHPR, Peter Meijer Architects, Skanska and Ankrom Moisan Architects.