Wind turbine company Vestas-American Wind Technology is staying in Portland and will soon have a new headquarters in the Pearl District (home of The Environmental Blog as well). Vestas, the world’s largest wind turbine maker, announced that it will convert a former Portland, Oregon department store warehouse into its new North American headquarters. An impressive undertaking generously supported by the local government, once the renovation is complete, Vestas will become home to the city’s largest array of solar panels and a gorgeous eco-garden terrace. Gerding Edlen Development, a leader in green architecture, has been chosen to oversee the conversion of the former Meier & Frank warehouse, and with five stories and 194,000 square feet in the pipeline, Vestas will finally be able to house its entire staff under one, green roof. More that just a building of adaptive reuse, the new construction is shooting to achieve LEED Platinum certification.

Though Vestas had been looking in other states for potential sites, the company today announced it would renovate the old Meier & Frank warehouse on Northwest Everett Street and 14th Avenue into their headquarters [picture below]. Gerding Edlen Development purchased the building several years ago and has been waiting to redevelop it, according to Mark Edlen, president of Gerding Edlen.

The strategic objectives that helped the Portland Development Commission and the city of Portland decide to generously help Vestas stay in Portland are as follows:

• Anchors Portland’s Clean Tech cluster –priority industry in Economic Development Strategy
• Attracts new firms to Portland and helps existing local firms access extensive supply chains.
• Validates Portland’s position as the US renewable energy capital and our reputation as a global Clean Tech leader
• Deepens already extensive talent pool in development and management of renewable energy development systems

“This is a wonderful building built by one of Oregon’s iconic companies of the 20th century,” Edlen said. “Now it will be occupied by one of Portland’s iconic companies of the 21st century.”

Between the city of Portland and the state, $8 million of public money will go toward the project, according to Mayor Sam Adams. The city has negotiated a 15-year, interest-free loan with Vestas to keep it in Oregon.

“We had to compete for this,” Adams said. “Other states were offering deals. They put us to the ringer to get the best site.”

Currently at 400 employees, Vestas has made a deal with the state to hire at least 100 new employees in the coming years. Vestas-American Wind Technology president Martha Wyrsch said the company will hire people with backgrounds in engineering, finance and sales.

The $66 million project is designed by GBD Architects and Ankrom Moisan Associated Architects and will be built by Skanska USA. Other project consultants include KPFF Engineering, Harper Houf Peterson Righellis Inc., and Peter Meijer Architects. The project will break ground in soon and will be finished in early 2012.