Oregon Dental Service: Milwaukie Plaza Milwaukie, Oregon

With the goal of sustainably expanding their offices, Oregon Dental Service (ODS) set their sights on a 50,000 square-foot industrial facility within the Willamette River Greenway. The Otak project in Milwaukie, Oregon focuses on the adaptive reuse of the poured-in-place concrete structure – while developing the 7.55 acres of land it’s built on – to create a modern cooperate office environment.

Industrial Reuse for a Sustainable Office Environment and Community Landmark

The building – originally constructed in 1956 as an industrial facility – is surrounded by residential development and, in its prior form, presented a stark image highly visible from major arterial access. The new design softened the original structure with the use of transparent additions to the building, improving the ascetics and natural lighting in the process. Design for the ODS Milwaukie Plaza allows views into the interior, as well as light, to break down the looming mass of the building. Creation of an interior street with light wells punched into the building contributed to natural lighting as part of a modern office layout. The application of these architectural devices creates the corporate image that ODS sought while creating a more appealing visual landmark for the surrounding residential community. Daylighting, sustainably-harvested hardwood floors, and the reuse of an old factory led to this project’s recognition for several awards, including acceptance into the US Green Building Council’s LEED – Existing Building pilot project.