(Photo above: Photo by Photographer Cheryl McIntosh | www.greatthingsaredone.com | @cherylmcintoshphotography)
Crane Shed Commons Melds Former Mill Site with Workspace Innovation
The instantly iconic 52,000 square foot Crane Shed Commons building has been officially unveiled in Bend’s Old Mill District, featuring cutting edge design and construction embracing modern technology while paying homage to the area’s historic roots.
Designed by Portland-based TVA Architects, and built by general contractor Kirby Nagelhout Construction Company, the $13 million ‘Class A’ four-story office structure sits proudly on the Industrial Way site where the former 1900s Brooks-Scanlon Mill crane shed once stood — a building that long symbolized the area’s reliance on a timber-based economy.
The former structure was notoriously pulled down and demolished under cover of night in 2004 by previous owners and would-be developers Crown Investment Group, much to the dismay of the local community who lamented the loss of such a local landmark.
But rising from the ashes of that sorry chapter, the new Crane Shed iteration has been thoughtfully designed to evoke and honor the legacy of the mill and the importance of the logging industry to the region while embracing new industry and technology.
It is now anchored by primary tenant Bend-based gaming design pioneers Sony Interactive Studio, which occupies the majority of the upper floors and enjoys stunning panoramic views of surrounding vistas. The acclaimed studio has been growing quietly while working on a forthcoming post-apocalyptic title, Days Gone, for PlayStation 4 and has expanded to over 100 employees during the game’s development
TVA Architects Principal Tim Wybenga said, “The main person behind the idea to build here was Cal Cannon, a long-time Bend resident and developer who sadly passed away while the building was under construction.
“Cal really wanted to do something lasting and important on the site of the former Crane Shed, and he was well aware of the site’s infamous history. A major focus of the project was to create a place specially designed to attract new industry, specifically high-tech clientele like Sony, to the site of the former heart of Bend’s timber industry.
“At the same time, he really wanted a building that represented Bend — the highly-efficient central core elements, key to a Class A office building, are clad in a more high-tech building envelope with metallic panels, and the flanking spaces are clad in brick and warm tones that are tied directly to the regional color palette.
“Besides the inclusion of a more casual, active lounge space with major amenities for bicycle commuters, the central stair, visible from the north entry, was a concept that we worked through with Cal and his wife Lisa, who was also a very active voice in the development of this building.
“The idea was to encourage people to use the stairs by pulling what would typically be an internal emergency exit stair into a position that makes it front-and-center.”
Soaring approximately 62 feet in height, the Crane Shed Commons design integrates the surrounding landscape from the Deschutes River to the Cascade Mountains with the colors of the building — soft gray, charcoal and dark brick red — all evocative of the local Ponderosa Pine, the key timber species for the once-booming mill.
The original crane shed had a block-like geometry, and the new structure offers a progressively modern approach with a focus on clean lines and efficiency.
Steel frame construction and exterior materials such as board-form concrete, dark masonry veneer, an aluminum curtain wall system and corrugated metal accent panels contribute to the building’s durability, energy efficiency and climate suitability.
With a clear nod to the growing and vibrant economy of Central Oregon, the design provides flexible work space, while embracing technology and adaptability for today’s style of working.
The interior lounge area doubles as flexible work space, and a slightly sunken floor in the main gathering space with bleacher seating provides an ideal presentation platform for large groups or can act as a unique meeting spot.
A fourth level terrace/deck as well as private patios and green spaces extend opportunities to enjoy the surrounding vistas and high desert climate, while a hydraulic-assisted bike lobby on the ground floor houses storage and amenities for cyclists and encourages an active lifestyle.
Diagonal bracing on the glassed ends of the Crane Shed Commons and the prominent interior stairwell visually display the structure, and the building is intentionally structurally expressive in a conscious effort to involve the visitor and invigorate the space.
The large interior stairwell is a grounding feature defining the interior, visible from all floors and landmark-like in its presence, and provides a whimsical way to navigate the building, with the overall theme reflecting Central Oregon’s economic success and setting a benchmark for future development.
The Crane Shed Commons is among the first Class A office spaces in Bend built on a speculative basis in the last decade, and the prime property site was purchased by Cannon and his development partner Wayne Perry in 2011 through Crane Shed, LLC.
Wybenga added, “We had a great team on this project, from our internal TVA team to a great group of consultants. Beyond that, we had an extremely collaborative process with the team at Kirby Nagelhout, who were just amazing to work with. They were engaged with us and with the owner from the very conception of the project.”
KNCC Project Manager Dan Hopper who spent more than two years shepherding the construction to fruition, said, “We broke ground in February 2016, and this is one of the best overall teams I have ever worked with, and the building is a tribute to that collaboration towards a common goal.
“The interior style, including the Sony space improvements that TVA also worked on, has been described affectionately, as ‘coffee house grit’ and I think it does a great job of marrying modern technical elements with traditional materials such as reclaimed teak, which had a flame retardant coating applied as part of this building being totally non-combustible.
“One of the challenges was working through the last winter, during which we had to transport 84 truckloads of snow from the site!”
Crane Shed Commons: 721 SW Industrial Way, Bend. For leasing information on remaining available office suites, contact listing agent Compass Commercial, 541-383-2444
Crane Shed Commons
721 SW Industrial Way, Bend, OR 97702
Property Owner/Developer: Crane Shed, LLC/ Shotgun Creek Investments
Contractor: Kirby Nagelhout Construction
Project Cost: $12.6 Million
Sitework Start: February 23, 2016
Completion: December 6, 2017
Square Footage: 51, 940 sq ft
Project Manager: Dan Hopper
Supervisor: Alec Hansen
Project Architects: Nick Williams, Zach Pennell, TVA Architects, Inc
Principal Architect: Tim Wybanga, TVA Architects, Inc
Structural Engineer: Michael Peterson, Froelich Engineers
Civil Engineer: Grant Hardgrave, HWA, INC
Electrical Engineer: Brandon Volbeda, Interface Engineering
Mechanical Engineer: Jeff Burke, Interface Engineering
Landscaping: Nate O’Meara, Millsite Landscape Services
Subcontractors and Suppliers:
Anthology Woods, Bend Cabinet & Fixture, Bend Commercial Glass, Budget Blinds, Cascade Heating & Specialties, Inc., Commercial Door & Hardware, Concrete Restoration Inc., Curtis Restaurant Equipment, Danos Cleaning, Deschutes Construction Corp., Eagle Roofing Company, Energy Conservation Insulation Inc., Environmental Controls Corp, Fabulous Floors, Inc., Farwest Steel Corporation, High Desert Aggregate & Paving, Inc., Hooker Creek Construction Materials, Hooker Creek Ready Mix, Inc., Johnson Bros. Appliance, Larusso Concrete, Latham Excavation, LDC, Inc., Michael’s Precast, Mike’s Fence Center, Inc., Miller Lumber, Millsite Landscape Services, North Rim Electric, Otis Elevator Company, Pavement Protectors, Peri Formwork Systems, Inc., Phoenix Fire Protection, Pro Shop Millwork, Pro-Bel Enterprises Limited, Rasmussen Masonry, Roger Langeliers Construction Co., Severson Plumbing & Mechanical, Skyline Sheet Metal, Inc., Sportworks Northwest, Inc., Steel Encounters Inc., Tomco Electric, Inc., Tri County Paving, True Line Steel, Inc., Western Partitions Inc., Westside Concrete Accessories
