(District II West | Photo courtesy of Steele Associates Architects)
A forward-thinking flexible approach has attracted an eclectic mix of tenants — including production baking, robotics, software innovation and state-of-the-art drone development — to a unique mixed-use vision in northwest Bend.
District II West is the second phase of similarly named developments off Lolo Drive in NorthWest Crossing and is a joint venture between Brooks Resources and Taylor Development, LLC, designed to create a campus feel and collegial setting for entrepreneurial companies looking for a variety of opportunities for employees to interact and learn from each other.
The newest commercial and mixed-employment campus on Bend’s west side, it is proving to be a vibrant, innovative and inclusive commercial cluster, close to the outdoors — including the renowned Phil’s Trail — as well as dining, retail, services and housing, with many of the associated business operators living close by.
With striking contemporary industrial-style architecture by Bend-based Steele Associates, the new buildings feature interplay of glass, concrete and steel, allowing multiple functional iterations and promoting an open and spacious feel with concrete floors and abundant light, creating inspiring workspaces. Each suite is internally custom designed to best fit the user’s needs.
Constructed by general contractor SunWest Builders, individual bays — which can be combined — include glass-paned roll-up garage doors, leading to private offices or more open orientations, conference rooms, break-out areas, potential production space and in-suite restrooms.
The two buildings totaling over 28,000 square feet in the latest District 2 development phase are now fully leased and have drawn an interesting array of users representative of a cross-section of Bend’s vibrant entrepreneurial spirit, predominantly in the software field, and including Sparrow Bakery Production, Rise Fitness, Agency Revolution, Apricity Code, LeadMethod, AKS Engineering & Forestry, UAV Factory, Tend.ai, Dutchie, Argonaut Cycles, Giant Source and Seven Peaks Ventures Management, LLC (see sidebar tenant profiles).
The project was specifically geared towards attracting hi-tech-related or outdoor companies that fit well with Bend’s diverse economy, reflective of enterprising tenants in complementary industries.
Taylor Development, LLC had previously successfully completed a campus to the west, housing such companies as Hydro Flask, Kollective and Thump coffee, and in 2018 joined forces with Brooks Resources to design and build a similar campus on the Potts Court cul-de-sac.
VP of Land Development for Taylor Development, LLC Liz Dolan said, “The goal has been to build a campus that attracts innovative, entrepreneurial tenants in complementary industries that share a collaborative and social culture — a shared sense of community fosters collaboration, interaction and inclusivity.
“It has a Silicon Valley-type feel and I take a lot of pride in being a part of a team that delivers great projects from conception to completion. We are excited to be a part of changing the flavor over there a little bit.”
A master-planned community, NorthWest Crossing is nearing the final stages of residential development and construction.
“It took quite a while to create enough critical mass to support commercial buildings,” said David Ford, vice president of real estate and development for Brooks Resources, a partner in West Bend Property Co., which developed NorthWest Crossing.
Taylor Development, LLC is also well-known as a family-run business in Bend that has focused on serving the Central Oregon community.
Hap Taylor and Sons was a major name in construction in Central Oregon in the 1980s and ’90s, with one of those sons, Todd Taylor, continuing to dominate in that sector today. He and his wife, Lorri, have run Taylor Development, LLC, a heavy construction contractor and commercial development company in Bend since 2008.
Todd Taylor said, “Taylor Development, LLC applies the same principles and business ethics to vertical construction that has made their earthwork construction successful over the past 25 years. We create developments that are more than merely structures with lease space. Taylor Development, LLC is driven by a vision to group people, practices and businesses that complement each other and contribute to shared success.
“Our developments connect with the surrounding community through services provided, architecture and site development that complements the natural setting. We view our interaction with the design team and clients as a partnership and collaborate early in the design process to deliver higher quality projects.
“We strive to provide a level of service that sets us apart from our competition. It is our goal to deliver projects that exceed the expectations of the end user.”
The third phase of the overall development, District 2 East off Potts Ct., is currently under construction and will offer mixed-use office and retail opportunities, with available space ranging from 2,100-17,380 sq. ft.
541-383-2444
District II West (3 building campus)
2777, 2783 and 2789 NW Lolo Dr., Bend
TENANTS:
Sparrow Bakery Production • Rise Fitness • Agency Revolution • Apricity Code • LeadMethod • AKS Engineering & Forestry • UAV Factory • Tend, AI • Dutchie • Argonaut Cycles • Giant Source • Seven Peaks Ventures Management, LLC
Property Owner/Developer: Taylor Development, LLC
Owner’s Representative: Liz Dolan, VP of Land Development, Taylor Development, LLC
Contractor: SunWest Builders
Completion: Building B – January 2019, Building A – May 2019, Building C – July 2019
Square Footage: Building B – 13,304 sq.ft., Building A – 14,975 sq.ft., Building C – 3,852 sq.ft. — (32,131 total)
Amenities: Flex Industrial Buildings
Project Manager: Julie Hyer, Sunwest Builders
Supervisor: David Mata, Sunwest Builders
Architect: Steele Associates Architects
Principal Architect: Scott Steele
Project Manager: Adam Stephen
Structural Engineer: Ashley Vance Engineering
Civil Engineer: AKS Engineering
Mechanical Engineer: CEA
Landscaping: Homeland Design
Subcontractors and Suppliers:
AM-1 Roofing, Inc., Bell Hardware, Bend Concrete Services, Co., Cascade Cabinets & Countertops, LLC, Cascade Interior Trim & Door, Inc., CCI Bend, LLC, Central Oregon Garage Door, Inc., Christensen Plumbing Solutions, LLC, CR Fabrication, Custom Tint, Darren Thomas Architecture & Planning, ECI, Elite Electric, Fabulous Floors, Garage Harmony, LLC, Guarantee Glass & Mirror, Inc., J&C Sanders Construction, J & R Fire Protection, J. Helm Enterprises, John A. Varner Construction, Johnson Brothers Appliances, Miller Lumber, Mountain Sky Landscaping, Inc., North Country Building Specialties, Northwest Framing Systems, Northwest Painting & Restoration, Inc., Quality Heating, Redbuilt Engineered Wood Products, SealTech, Solid Rock Masonry Con., Superior Garage Floors, T.V.M Waterproofing, Wallace Group, Watkins Testing & Inspection
