Mercy Corps World Headquarters: Portland, OR

Building with a Mission

Responding to international crises isn’t easy when your colleagues are scattered across six separate office spaces. Mercy Corps found its solution in Portland, Ore.’s neglected Packer-Scott Building. Constructed in 1892, the building was renovated, and about the same amount of square footage was added. The nonprofit’s new LEED Platinum headquarters features a spacious daylit atrium and stairwell (which also functions as a stack ventilator). It includes an open plan layout and common areas such as the coffee bar, which help stimulate informal collaboration for its entire staff. A variable refrigerant flow heat pump system, dual outdoor air system and natural ventilation contribute to an annual EUI of 36 kBtu/ft2.