Urban Renaissance Group

Urban Renaissance Group (URG) is a private commercial real estate investor, developer and property manager headquartered in the Joshua Green Building in downtown Seattle, with a second office in Portland, Oregon. Founded in 2006, the firm was built on the belief that the renaissance of American cities and the creation of place in suburbs represented a fundamental shift in the landscape, opening opportunities to shape the built environment with an emphasis on placemaking. URG describes its business across three disciplines — Invest, Build and Operate — applying local market knowledge to identify opportunities and maximize returns, delivering ground-up development and redevelopment projects, and bringing a hospitality mindset to property operations for tenants and partners. The company's early reputation was built on historic renovation. It partnered with the Joshua Green Corporation to reinvent that firm's 100-year-old headquarters building, a project that won NAIOP's Historic Renovation of the Year and led JGC to make a significant investment in URG. URG opened its doors at Columbia Center in October 2006, won the NAIOP award in November 2009, and moved its corporate office to the Joshua Green Building in April 2010. In 2014 it acquired Seattle-based real estate development firm Touchstone, adding expertise in innovative new construction and ground-up development. URG's portfolio work has included projects such as Troy Block, with its sweeping pedestrian passageway, and the revival of architect Pietro Belluschi's mid-century modern aesthetic at 1320 Broadway. URG positions itself around five values — integrity, respect, equity, place and prosperity — and frames its purpose as developing vibrant futures for cities, towns and neighborhoods. It operates primarily in the Seattle and Portland metropolitan areas, where it invests in, develops and manages commercial properties, and it has been involved in major regional projects including the transition of Lloyd Center in Portland toward a new neighborhood. The firm remains privately held and active, with offices in Seattle and Portland.

Urban Renaissance Group was founded in 2006 with the core belief that the renaissance of cities and the creation of place in suburbs represented a fundamental shift in the American landscape. That shift, in the founders' view, opened unique opportunities to shape the built environment with an emphasis on placemaking. URG opened its doors at Columbia Center in October 2006 as what it describes as a nose-to-the-grindstone start-up. An early defining partnership was with the renowned Joshua Green Corporation (JGC). URG teamed with JGC to reinvent the company's 100-year-old headquarters building. The project won NAIOP's Historic Renovation of the Year in November 2009 and inspired JGC to make a significant investment in URG. In April 2010, URG moved its corporate office to the Joshua Green Building, where it remains headquartered today. The firm's timeline notes further milestones, including the acquisition of 7th & Madison in November 2011. A major growth milestone came in 2014 with URG's acquisition of the Seattle-based real estate development firm Touchstone, known for innovative urban development. Adding Touchstone's experience allowed URG to take on even more complex projects and expanded its capabilities in innovative new construction practices and ground-up development. URG's development work has since included projects such as Troy Block, with a sweeping pedestrian passageway designed for lingering and enjoying the view, and the revival of architect Pietro Belluschi's highly desirable mid-century modern aesthetic at 1320 Broadway. The firm has also built a reputation for historic renovations that weave together old and new. URG describes itself as young but with history, and says it will continue to add chapters in the service of its partners, neighbors and communities. It operates from Seattle and Portland, pursuing a strategy of placemaking across transforming urban neighborhoods, suburban town centers and transit hubs. In Portland, URG has been involved in the transition of Lloyd Center toward a new, vibrant neighborhood, announcing an official closing date as part of that transition.

• URG opens its doors at Columbia Center.

• URG wins NAIOP's 2009 Historic Renovation of the Year for the Joshua Green Building.

• URG corporate office moves to the Joshua Green Building.

• 7th & Madison acquisition.

• URG acquires Seattle-based real estate development firm Touchstone.

A commercial real estate investor, developer and property manager that sparks change in transforming neighborhoods through placemaking, reinventing land and buildings to better serve people and the community.

• Joshua Green Building

  Historic renovation project that won NAIOP's Historic Renovation of the Year and became URG's headquarters.

• Troy Block

  Development project featuring a sweeping pedestrian passageway designed for lingering and enjoying the view.

• 1320 Broadway

  Project reviving architect Pietro Belluschi's mid-century modern aesthetic.

• Lloyd Center

  Portland project transitioning toward a new, vibrant neighborhood.

1. 1Home - Urban Renaissance Groupurbanrengroup.com
2. 2History - Urban Renaissance Groupurbanrengroup.com
3. 3About - Urban Renaissance Groupurbanrengroup.com
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5. 5Urban Renaissance Group - Wikidatawikidata.org