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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.

Climate Change and the Commercial Real Estate Industry

The built environment is responsible for nearly half of CO2 emissions. Out of the total annual CO2 emissions, building materials generate 27%, while materials and construction account for 20%, called “embodied carbon.” The vast majority — more than 50 percent! — of all carbon dioxide generated by human activity ends up in our atmosphere as heat around us every day through natural processes including extreme weather events, heat waves, and drought.

Hurley Development is an example of a CRE developer positioned to tackle climate change head-on. Located in Vancouver, Washington, a city that is known for an assertive climate action plan, Ryan Hurley, President of Hurley Development, decided that as a development company they needed to lead the way in attacking climate change. According to Ryan, “It’s more important than ever that businesses and business leaders take proactive steps towards sustainability.”

As climate crisis becomes an increasingly pressing global issue, it is more important than ever for commercial real estate developers like Hurley Development who contribute to the built environment to consider how they can help respond to the problem of climate change. There are a number of ways in which developers can make a positive contribution, from incorporating green building practices into their projects to supporting renewable energy initiatives. By strategically approaching the challenge of climate change, developers will protect the environment and also position themselves as leaders in the industry.

5 Ways Leading Developers Are Responding to Climate Change

Green Design

One of the most important things that developers can do to help address climate change is to incorporate green building practices into their projects. “Green buildings” are designed and built with the intention of reducing their impact on the environment, and they can be constructed using a variety of sustainable materials and technologies. By choosing to build green, sustainable, buildings that utilize smart building technology, developers like Hurley Development in Vancouver, Washington can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of their projects and help to reduce the resource needs and climate impact of new development. 

Reducing Carbon Emissions

Carbon emissions from new real estate development can be reduced in several ways. One is to choose building materials that have lower embodied carbon emissions. Another is to incorporate energy-efficient features into buildings that will reduce emissions over the life of the property. Another is to incorporate energy-efficient features into the design of buildings, including solar panels or green roofs. And, finally, developers can install on-site renewable energy systems that generate power without emitting carbon dioxide. With careful planning and preparation, including incorporating smart technology to help manage energy usage, developers like Hurley Development are reducing the carbon footprint of their projects.

Renewable Energy

Another way that developers can help respond to climate change is by supporting renewable energy initiatives. Renewable energy sources or “renewables” like solar and wind power are becoming increasingly popular as developers look for ways to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. As the cost of building and deploying renewable energy technology continues to drop, it is becoming more feasible for developers to incorporate renewables into their projects.

Incorporating renewable energy into new development can have a number of benefits. Ryan Hurley, President of Hurley Development, says, “We love that something as simple as solar or wind power directly reduces our impact by shrinking the carbon footprint of our projects.” Additionally, it provides a marketing advantage to developers like Hurley, as sustainable initiatives are popular, and a selling point for new developments. And finally, it can help to position developers as leaders in the industry by showing their commitment to reduce the impact of climate change.

Not only that, investors are also increasingly interested in committing capital to companies whose projects have an environmentally sound strategy. These investors believe these forward-thinking business practices will keep them safe from financial risk for years to come and prepare the company better for uncertain times including economic slowdowns or natural disasters. And in today’s market it’s not only about making money – doing good is also highly valued by many thoughtful investors. 

Water Conservation

One of the most important things that developers can do to help address climate change is to incorporate water-conserving components into their projects. With excessive heat and droughts becoming more common in many parts of the world, water conservation is becoming an increasingly important issue. Ryan Hurley noted, “Look at Lake Mead, a key source of water for over 25 million people, and you realize how quickly people and our water usage can overwhelm our water sources.” Developers who incorporate onsite water reuse into their projects are not only helping to address climate change today, they are preparing their buildings and developments for a future in which water scarcity will become more common.

Pumping, treating, and heating water takes a lot of energy, so recycling and using less water helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Recycled water, whether grey water or blackwater, has many benefits. Not only is it great for plants but can be used in place of potable sources such as irrigation and toilet flushing, saving many thousands of gallons per year, along with the greenhouse gasses that would have been created from handling and processing both the clean and used water.

Reducing Resource Needs and Climate Impact

New developments have a significant impact on the environment, both in terms of the resources they consume and the pollution they generate. However, developers who plan ahead can take steps to reduce the resource needs and climate impact of their projects that make an impact, while remaining affordable within the budgets set by developers. 

One way to do this is to choose building materials that have lower embodied carbon emissions. Another is to incorporate energy-efficient features into the design of the project. For example, developers can install solar panels or green roofs. And, finally, developers can install on-site renewable energy systems that generate power without emitting carbon dioxide. 

Looking to the future and weighing their potential impact on the environment, commercial real estate developers like Hurley Development have a significant opportunity to help address climate change. By taking action to reduce their carbon footprint, supporting renewable energy initiatives, and conserving water, developers like Hurley Development are positioning themselves as leaders in the industry and making a real impact regarding climate change.

The owner of this year’s “Best Green Project” winner, 915 Broadway Street, found themselves faced with a challenge: the 4-story multi-tenant commercial office building, constructed in 1979, featured 6,000 square feet of single-pane windows which offered little insulation from exterior temperatures. Those temperatures, in Vancouver, Washington, could reach 90 degrees in some rooms during hot days. They needed a solution that would be cost-effective and prioritize occupant comfort; enter Alpen High Performance Products.

Alpen performed a modified retrofit on the building using secondary windows, its WinSert Plus product, dramatically improving the project’s thermal performance and occupant comfort. Winsert incorporates super-insulating, high-performance and lightweight fiberglass frames and uses “thin” glass laminated with high-performance films to improve existing single-glazed or lower-performing double-pane windows by up to five times the existing performance levels, says Craig Maierhofer, vice president of business development for Alpen. 

The benefits were measurable. After the retrofit, the building experienced a 13.4 percent reduction in building energy use, improving occupant comfort throughout the building. “On a record-breaking 115-degree day, the entire fourth floor measured within one degree of setpoint at 72 degrees, where it would typically reach as high as 90 degrees on a 95- to 100-degree day,” says David Berg, vice president of property management.

“Alpen’s WinSert is an innovative solution to update existing building performance,” says Glass Magazine Judge Kayla Natividad, architectural technical services engineer, NSG Pilkington. “The addition of a secondary insert allows for reuse of existing materials, limits waste, results in less embodied carbon than full replacements, and improves operational performance.”

A rare type of building development from Hurley Development is nearing completion in Vancouver’s Uptown Village, in a location that will soon be next to the area’s only grocery store.

The new building, called Navalia, is at 1600 Washington St. It is a 73-unit apartment building built on top of a historic one-story building from 1946 that was once occupied by Bennett Paper & Supply. It should be finished in October, which would make it a 365-day construction.

The building will contain studios, loft studios, one and two bedroom units, and the ground floor will house a large national restaurant in a 7,600 square foot space that Ryan Hurley, president of Hurley Development, said which he could not divulge. until later. The building will contain 33 parking spaces.

About 2 and a half years ago, Hurley stumbled upon the property and thought it would be a great addition to the Uptown Village scene, where new apartment buildings, restaurants and bars are opening.

“I saw a gap downtown for single professionals,” Hurley said.

Navalia’s theme is “safe harbour”, which is the translation from Latin. It can be seen in the design of the building, especially its roof, to resemble a ship. It’s a tribute to Kaiser Shipyards workers who came to Vancouver during World War II to build battleships, Hurley said.

By Christine J. Bradford