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Executive Building

  • Address: 155 Cottage Street, NE  Salem, OR  97301
  • Tenant: Department of Administrative Services
  • Square footage: 63,600
  • Date completed: 1937
   

Building History
Construction began on a portion of the building in 1935 as the Federal post office for Salem at a cost of $310,000.  It was dedicated on October 16, 1937 as one of only two marble post office buildings west of the Mississippi River – the other one was in Denver, CO.  It remained as the main post office until they outgrew the space and the central post office moved to 25th Street in 1976. 
 
Shortly after, the Department of General Services purchased, expanded, and renovated it into an office building for the Executive Department in 1979.  At the time the building was the post office, it was about half the size it is now.  It only included the Church Street side to about the middle of the building near the elevators.  The renovation added the other half of the building on the Cottage Street side and the parking structure.  In fact, that is why the floors don’t line up and the elevators have two sides – one side of the elevator is the original building and the other side is the expansion. 
 
Also, the original building had a large lobby with murals that is now conference rooms A & B.  The renovation project took great pains to ensure the murals and molding of the original building were preserved, as well as some of the integrity of the original lobby.  The windows of those conference rooms also originally had bars on them, like you would a bank or other secured facility. 
 
The architect for the renovation project was the Salem firm Payne, Settecase, Smith, and Doss.    
 
Sources:   State Architect, http://www.salemhistory.net/places/post_office.htm
 

Green Team

  The launch of the Executive Building Green Team began in March 2009. 
 
Members:  Andrea Goehring (HRSD), Yvonne Hanna (OPS), Josh Harwood (OEA), Summer Warner (DO), Bret West (OPS)
 
Current Projects:
  • Waste-free social events
  • Pledge cards
  • Support the resource conservation management policy
  • Monthly walk-thrus
 

Sustainability
Energy Conservation
The Department of Administrative Services (DAS) has designated its buildings as resource conservation zones. This means DAS works hard to save energy and water in its buildings, as well as ensure employees and tenants recycle to the best of their ability. The goal is to save taxpayer money and care for the environment to the greatest extent possible.
    
Energy Savings Report
   DAS compares all bills to the calendar year 2000 as a baseline.  The goal and OAR require a 20 percent reduction in electricity and natural gas usage by 2015. DAS does not adjust the buildings without baseline adjustments for weather or any other factors. The savings column represents the combined electric and gas savings in Btu’s compared to the year 2000 usage. The Energy Cost column includes the totals for electric and gas – not all utilities.    

Year
Electrical Usage (kWh)
Gas Usage (therms)
Energy Cost
Savings over the year 2000
2000
1,154,427
13,092
$67,021
 
2001
849,993
6,909
$57,897
-32%
2002
878,322
6,165
$75,897
-31%
2003
876,022
8,022
$74,234
-28%
2004
871,924
9,325
$74,500
-26%
2005
886,168
9,974
$80,804
-23%
2006
968,771
10,687
$91,302
-17%
2007
920,270
10,585
$94,762
-20%
2008
977,414
10,431
$108,446
-17%
 
 
Electricity Scorecards
The quarterly scorecard provides a quick report on electricity reductions, compliance with the 20 percent reduction target, recent night audit results, and tips for conservation. Here are the scorecards for the building.

2009
2010
 
 
January
 
 
April
 
 
July
 
October
 
 
Night Audits
  As part of the effort to conserve resources, DAS conducts quarterly night audits of the buildings. They walk through the spaces to ensure that lights, appliances, and equipment remains off during u onoccupied times. Here are the results of the audits for the building.

2009
 
2010
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
July
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Renewables
Eventually, DAS plans to use assessments from various groups to compile a renewable picture for each building that includes solar, wind and geothermal. The following summarizes the renewable attributes of the building.  
Potential
Solar assessment report - coming December 2009
 
Actual
Nothing yet, but DAS plans a project by 2011.
 
 

Transportation

  The manner in which we travel to and from the building impacts sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions. The following summarizes the sustainable transportation options around the building.
 
Bike Routes
http://www.cityofsalem.net/Departments/ITandFacilities/GIS/Documents/trans_bike_salem2006-fullcityside%5B1%5D.pdf 

Certifications or Awards
The following summarizes the recognition received for the building.

 
Page updated: October 21, 2009

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