How do you kick the tires on a $100M Project? Ask SABIT

U.S. Department of Commerce's Special American Business Internship Training Program (SABIT) trains senior level professionals from Eurasia in energy efficiency and green building technologies. Recently, First Stop hosted this group from countries as diverse as Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan. (Man, that's alotta Stans.)

Their study tour focused on building--retrofitting and new construction-- for energy efficiency. Local experts led the group through some of Portland's premier projects, old and new: from the Brewery Blocks, Port of Portland Headquarters, and OHSU's Center for Health and Healing  to OUS's Collaborative Life Sciences Building and the Edith Green Wendell Wyatt Modernization Project. Presenters emphasized the importance of  sustainable design and architecture, high quality construction materials, renewable energy applications, IT applications and technologies, green building certification and commissioning, as well as marketing a green product. 

Bruce Fellows, Mechanical Engineer, Port of Portland

By introducing Eurasia's building professionals to Portland's experts, the U.S. Commerce Department hoped to better equip the region's companies with best practices and leading edge technologies for use back home. Opportunities flowed both ways, however. Local firms like Green Building Services, Michael McCulloch Architects, GBD Architects, ZGF Architects, SERA Architects, Gerding Edlen Developers, JE Dunn Construction Company, OHSU, and the Port of Portland got to showcase their facilities, products, and services to their Eurasian counterparts, potentially gaining valuable contacts and partnerships to explore. 

We've attempted to show you in a few minutes what the visitors saw during their study tour with First Stop. We hope you enjoy it and appreciate your feedback in the comments section, below.