Urban Renaissance Group, J.K Gill Building

Fortis worked with building owner URG to renovate and restore this 100,000sf, 100-year old, 10-story building in downtown Portland. The $12.3M project rebrands the structure with the name and identity of its original owner and tenant: the J.K. Gill Co., which at one time was the largest distributor of books in the Northwest. Interior improvements include a new 800-foot skylight, a new café, and an expanded ground-floor lobby with décor paying tribute to the building’s history. Upgrades and renovations to the building’s infrastructure include updated elevators, a new energy-efficient HVAC system, and upgraded plumbing and electrical systems. The building also gained secure bike storage for 100 bicycles, spa-grade showers, lockers and a tenant lounge.