Fruit and Flower, now Helen Gordon Child Development Center
From: fruitandflower.org/about-us/
Built in 1928
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"The Helen Gordon Child Development Center is located at the corner of SW Market and 12th. The Center was built in 1928 as the Portland Fruit and Flower Mission. Originally organized by eight school girls to deliver flowers to hospital patients and shut-ins, the Fruit and Flower Society ultimately became Oregon's leading child care center. Additionally, the organization supplied food, clothing, furniture and other items to local charities.
The Portland Fruit and Flower Mission became a full-time child development facility with the help of Helen Gordon, an advocate for young children and their right to have quality child care and pre-school. Childcare began at Portland State University in 1971 as the result of efforts of Gordon and a small, committed group of student mothers who staged a sit-down in the University's President's office. In 1986, the same year it was added to the National Historic Register, the Portland Fruit and Flower Mission was renamed the Helen Gordon Child Development Center (HGCDC) in honor of the achievements made by its namesake.
Not only has PSU succeeded in retaining the social importance of the HGCDC, but it has also recognized the significance in creating an environmentally sustainable building. In 2003, HGCDC was renovated and a new addition was constructed to meet state requirements for energy efficiency and to control lead paint and asbestos.
As an Oregon State Energy Efficiency Design (SEED) project, the renovation called for energy conservation measures (ECMs) to be integrated into the building design. These ECMs include efficient lighting layout and design to minimize the amount of light fixtures, and clear glass in doorways to allow natural light to filter through the hallways to maximize daylight. Other innovative features include natural ventilation in the "piazza" between the original building and the addition. In the form of a chimney effect, heat is drawn out of the building through vents in the ceiling of the "piazza". Exposed utilities throughout hallway ceilings on the first floor and heated floors in the infant and toddler room reduce the need for resources which otherwise would have been needed for ceiling tiles. Overall, the ECMs contribute to an annual savings of about $28,000.
In addition to eliminating inefficient use of energy in the HGCDC, measures were taken to control storm water around the building. A constant problem in the Pacific Northwest, stormwater, if not properly managed, flows over streets and pavement collecting pollutants and carrying them into streams and rivers. To alleviate the problem at the Center, planters were placed at the northwest corner and next to the parking garage to manage water runoff from the roof and playground and to filter out pollutants and reduce volume to improve water quality.
Finally, the project also called for preserving the existing building. Many of the distinctive details of the building that have been preserved include retaining the wood floors and paneling and the sky lights on the top floor. Also, in a unique reuse of a structure, the carriage house is now used as a covered playground for the children!"
From: www.pdx.edu/sustainability/helen-gordon-child-development...
Fruit and Flower, now Helen Gordon Child Development Center
From: fruitandflower.org/about-us/
Built in 1928
---
"The Helen Gordon Child Development Center is located at the corner of SW Market and 12th. The Center was built in 1928 as the Portland Fruit and Flower Mission. Originally organized by eight school girls to deliver flowers to hospital patients and shut-ins, the Fruit and Flower Society ultimately became Oregon's leading child care center. Additionally, the organization supplied food, clothing, furniture and other items to local charities.
The Portland Fruit and Flower Mission became a full-time child development facility with the help of Helen Gordon, an advocate for young children and their right to have quality child care and pre-school. Childcare began at Portland State University in 1971 as the result of efforts of Gordon and a small, committed group of student mothers who staged a sit-down in the University's President's office. In 1986, the same year it was added to the National Historic Register, the Portland Fruit and Flower Mission was renamed the Helen Gordon Child Development Center (HGCDC) in honor of the achievements made by its namesake.
Not only has PSU succeeded in retaining the social importance of the HGCDC, but it has also recognized the significance in creating an environmentally sustainable building. In 2003, HGCDC was renovated and a new addition was constructed to meet state requirements for energy efficiency and to control lead paint and asbestos.
As an Oregon State Energy Efficiency Design (SEED) project, the renovation called for energy conservation measures (ECMs) to be integrated into the building design. These ECMs include efficient lighting layout and design to minimize the amount of light fixtures, and clear glass in doorways to allow natural light to filter through the hallways to maximize daylight. Other innovative features include natural ventilation in the "piazza" between the original building and the addition. In the form of a chimney effect, heat is drawn out of the building through vents in the ceiling of the "piazza". Exposed utilities throughout hallway ceilings on the first floor and heated floors in the infant and toddler room reduce the need for resources which otherwise would have been needed for ceiling tiles. Overall, the ECMs contribute to an annual savings of about $28,000.
In addition to eliminating inefficient use of energy in the HGCDC, measures were taken to control storm water around the building. A constant problem in the Pacific Northwest, stormwater, if not properly managed, flows over streets and pavement collecting pollutants and carrying them into streams and rivers. To alleviate the problem at the Center, planters were placed at the northwest corner and next to the parking garage to manage water runoff from the roof and playground and to filter out pollutants and reduce volume to improve water quality.
Finally, the project also called for preserving the existing building. Many of the distinctive details of the building that have been preserved include retaining the wood floors and paneling and the sky lights on the top floor. Also, in a unique reuse of a structure, the carriage house is now used as a covered playground for the children!"
From: www.pdx.edu/sustainability/helen-gordon-child-development...