![12th and Alder / GBD Architects - Table, Chair, Beam](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/50f8/61bf/b3fc/4b31/6d00/024b/newsletter/12thAlder-JoshPartee-0236-3rdFlr-lobby.jpg?1413945933)
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Architects: GBD Architects
- Area: 20000 ft²
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Photographs:Josh Partee
![12th and Alder / GBD Architects - Windows, Facade](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/50f8/6202/b3fc/4b31/6d00/0256/newsletter/12thAlder-JoshPartee-0562-west-elev.jpg?1413945926)
Text description provided by the architects. The Culver Building renovation at SW 12th & Alder is located in downtown Portland’s west end. On this quarter-block site GBD designed a 6,000 sq. foot glass- and aluminum-skinned structure on top of the original 20,000 sq. foot, two-story building from 1920. The building retains the existing foundation, cast-in-place concrete perimeter walls, wood roof structure, and a majority of the heavy timber girders, beams and columns.
![](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/50f8/6231/b3fc/4b31/6d00/025e/newsletter/12th_and_Alder_-_Diagram.jpg?1413945944)
The ground floor now offers 4,000 sq. ft. of retail, 13 parking stalls, a small office lobby, and new windows to replace the existing 1970s-vintage aluminum storefront. The existing 10,000 sq. foot second level was renovated from parking to office space. Two wood decks surround the new third floor.
Lease Crutcher Lewis is a regional construction company that served as the client and contractor on this project, which was executed in a design-build manner. They now occupy the third floor of the building.
![12th and Alder / GBD Architects - Chair, Beam](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/50f8/61df/b3fc/4b31/6d00/024f/medium_jpg/12thAlder-JoshPartee-0392-open-rooms.jpg?1413945935)
The building was a parking garage before the renovation project. Before that, it was used by a glass company and for other light industrial uses. Seismic upgrades included new moment frame, helical piles and drag connections at new concrete masonry unit (CMU) walls.
![12th and Alder / GBD Architects - Windows, Facade, Beam](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/50f8/61c0/b3fc/4b31/6d00/024c/medium_jpg/12thAlder-JoshPartee-0343-south-terrace.jpg?1413945931)
3,500 lineal feet of wood were salvaged during demolition and reused during the project, and 91 percent of construction waste was diverted from the landfill.
![](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/50f8/623f/b3fc/4b31/6d00/0260/newsletter/section.jpg?1413945946)