Published by Portland Business Journal
Acme Business Consulting
Principals: Scott Demorest, David Kelleherand Peter Lizotte
Home: The Lemon Hotel Building
Landlord: Tim O’Leary
Address: 249 N.W. Park Ave.
Space: 4,200 square feet
Employees: 65
Architect: Jean-Pierre Veillet of Siteworks Design Build
Nominated by: Kelda Rericha, A. Wordsmith Communications
Acme Business Consulting had three goals when it moved to The Lemon Hotel Building on the Pearl District’s eastern edge in late 2012.
It needed room to expand. It needed client-oriented meeting space. It needed an office that would wow prospective employees.
Thanks to an innovative architect, it scored on all three fronts.
Acme moved to its digs at the vintage Lemon Hotel on the Pearl District side of the North Park Blocks after landlord Tim O’Leary brought in architect Jean-Pierre Veillet of Siteworks Design
Build to redesign space that, according to Acme Principal Scott Demorest, was pretty rough.
The results were nothing short of amazing, Demorest reports.
Veillet didn’t merely interview Acme officials. He interviewed its employees and its clients to find out what they wanted.
“I thought that was so interesting that an architect would interview a client about what they wanted in our space. That he would interview the employees. It was really amazing,” Demorest said.
Acme takes an unusual tack. Employees chiefly work at client offices so the company doesn’t need to house every employee every day. That keeps its square footage relatively low. But it does host gatherings and more importantly, serves as an off-site meeting spot for clients. The company calls its offices “facilitation headquarters.”
Since moving, its conference rooms have been booked solid, both for clients and for outside groups.
Acme also wanted a space that would help it with its aggressive employee recruiting program.
“When they walk into the office for the very first time, we want the impression to be strong,” Demorest said. “It’s almost a necessity in the consulting and creative game.”