The Redd has a compelling story. It was started by Portlander Spencer Beebe, founder of Conservation International, president of The Nature Conservancy and founder of Ecotrust.
I went to one of their early events and I will be at future events. The narrative of the space is related in a (long) talk delivered at the site, first 15 is ecophilosophy, after is the story of the space: http://creativemornings.com/talks/spencer-beebe/1. They hired a W+Ker to do ethnographic research in the neighborhood. Ethnographers researching a project should be done more.
Redd consists of two buildings The Foundry and The Marble.
The Foundry, originally a foundry, is a raw warehouse with a high clerestory, a bridge crane (I want my space with one) and with a giant press right in the middle of it. The Redd Foundry has been host to large art and tech events seeking a raw space, like XOXO and PICA:TBA. All the electricity has to be run on a temporary basis for the event, there is no heat, lighting must be brought in and the bathrooms are porta potties.
Ultimately it is being restored into a center for food manufacturing of local artisan products as explained on the website. If you are a food maker - baker, meats, vegetable-based foods needing shared cooler space, kitchens, prep and delivery logistics, talk to them!
The Marble is a newer space with clean office areas, restrooms, heat, and warehouse that housed Intrepid, a stone distributor.
His other project, the Ecotrust Jean Vollum Natural Capital Center, was the first LEED Gold certified restoration of an historic building, 100 years old. The updates to the Foundry will also be designed for LEED certification.
If your event needs a raw industrial-style warehouse for 1000+ and can flex with their limited facilities today, and even better, if your brand meshes with theirs, you can discuss with Ecotrust event rentals. read more