Hurley Development is a regional real estate and investment holding firm, based in Vancouver, WA. They are currently in the process of building HQ Vancouver, a mixed-use community that was designed in accordance with the Riverview Gateway Subarea Plan. Hurley Development is also collaborating with experienced and accomplished partners and vendors to integrate a smart city approach in the construction of the community.
The community is located in what was known as Fisher Quarry. Also known as “Fishers Quarry” and “Fishers Landing Quarry,” the quarry began operating in 1881 and was still in operation until 2022. Part of the historical 186-acre mining site with gorgeous views of the Columbia River, HQ Vancouver is an attractive 107-acre location for urban development, restoration, and rejuvenation of the area. HQ Vancouver will include multiple open spaces, connected by a sprawling network of trails, parks, and pedestrian walkways.
HQ Vancouver was envisioned as a complete live, work, play community that is both pedestrian-friendly and high-quality. The design focuses on environmental friendliness, by employing the use of green open spaces and incorporating sustainable, green design throughout the buildings.
The design of the HQ community extensively focuses on community, design, and sustainability. These elements are interlinked and reinforce each other.
Here is more information about each of those pieces of the HQ Vancouver vision:
Community
HQ Vancouver is a mixed-use space that provides its residents with every amenity they need, within walking distance. Ryan Hurley of Hurley Development’s purpose for creating a walkable, mixed-use environment in the city of Vancouver, Washington is to enhance the feeling of community among the residents, and everyone who works at or visits the micro smart city. Located in a beautiful urban setting, HQ Vancouver includes entertainment, a natural grocery, desirable retail, over 2000 multi-family residential units, community open spaces and pedestrian corridors, and office spaces. The urban center has been designed to bring together the residents for a memorable shopping experience, bringing exciting retail partners to the area. It also includes dining opportunities and public spaces. The urban retail center includes a beautiful Civic Plaza for gathering and events, Retail and Restaurant Spaces, and Walkable Pedestrian Corridors that all bring life to the micro smart city.
The multi-family residential areas will house the residents of HQ Vancouver. They are sustainable through the use of advanced smart technology, while at the same time well-connected to green spaces, pedestrian corridors, and trails. The apartment homes benefit from high-quality views of the Columbia River, while the trees in the buffer area not only bring beauty and life to the connected community, but also act as a sound barrier. The neighborhood park, dog park, and urban center can be easily accessed from the residential area, whether by walking or jumping on the free HQ electric transportation that circulates through the micro city. The employment buildings are designed in a way to minimize its impact on the public areas of HQ, providing them a comfortable place to work while still only a short walk away from restaurants, shopping, and entertainment, so they never feel far from the fun and exciting activities of HQ.
To cultivate a sense of community, Hurley Development has focused on providing communal spaces and pedestrian corridors. HQ Vancouver has a massive 6-acre park that is connected to other green spaces through walkways and trails, and the park is next to an amphitheater that hosts concerts and events throughout the spring and summer.
Design
The unique approach to urban design by SRG Partners and Place Design Studio ensures that the landscape architecture and urban design of HQ will make the world a better place for residents and visitors. Materials were chosen thoughtfully, governed by functionality, beauty, inspirational qualities including the circle of living, resting, working and recreating, and the site’s history and surroundings. The design is also conducive to pedestrian-friendly activities, to maximize the space and activate as much of the space as possible.
HQ Vancouver’s unique design finds inspiration in the location’s history as a mining area. Ryan Hurley and Hurley Development were inspired by materials like raw heavy timber, natural rock and concrete, black metal windows and doors, and plenty of amazing glazing or glass, throughout its design to reinforce the connectivity to nature. These materials appear throughout the center, inspiring a connection between the people, buildings and open spaces.
Varying textures have been incorporated in the design that is reminiscent of mining operations. They also are reflective of the materials that are found naturally in the area. The final product is a design that blends in with the rocky landscape of the surrounding area. Hurley Development also makes use of tactile landscapes, such as tall grass and trees, which adds to the sensory experience of the HQ. HQ is also separated from the neighboring areas by a buffer area. This further creates a sense of complete and connected community. The separation is natural, coming from topography like cliffs and trees.
Connectedness to nature remains a key theme in the design. This is why there is an emphasis on green spaces. For instance, the north/south pedestrian trail that connects the residential area and the commercial area is lined with a double row of trees.
Sustainability
The buildings at HQ are LEED certified, but Ryan Hurley and Hurley Development did not want to stop at LEED certification when it comes to sustainability at HQ. It is only the beginning. Hurley Development is closely working with smart technology architects to incorporate a smart city approach to creating a sustainable community. The community takes inspiration from other successful applications of smart cities, including the projects in Sterling Ranch, Colorado, and Lake Nona, Florida. The smart micro-city approach involves the use of technologies that are energy-efficient, sustainable, safe, and provide return on investment (ROI) for both tenants and owners. Once complete, HQ will be one of the first cities on the West Coast to incorporate a smart city approach. This will be beneficial for the city of Vancouver, as this will help the City of Vancouver gain recognition for innovation and help to reach their climate action plan goals.
Sustainability doesn’t happen by accident. Sustainability has been an overarching goal of Hurley Development and Ryan Hurley and it has influenced all decisions, big or small at HQ Vancouver. To ensure that the entire project is built in a manner that is sustainable, energy-efficient, long-lasting, and resource-efficient, HQ Vancouver complies with a sustainable design standard that has been approved by the City. This includes meeting Leadership in Energy Efficiency and Design (LEED) standards, Green Globe Certifications, Earth Advantage Sustainability Certifications, and other goals set by Hurley Development and the City.
Along with the design of the buildings, smart technology is a key tool that will help Hurley Development and their partners meet sustainability goals in the connected community. Sustainable elements will be incorporated in every building and across the micro smart city to enhance the community’s and the area’s standard of living. This will be achieved through deploying the use of modern technologies that can connect the residents physically and digitally as they please, and help them meet sustainability goals with options like saving energy and money through using technology to manage their energy use in HVAC and lighting. Hurley Development’s HQ Vancouver center will employ solar technology to help lower the electrical demand of the connected community. Along with solar technology, trees and plants used for landscaping will only be native and drought tolerant. Green spaces will be watered by irrigation systems with built-in rain sensors and moisture sensors, to prevent unnecessary watering. And the water will be recycled and repurposed as much as possible through the use of sustainable onsite water reuse solutions.