Company: Wieden + Kennedy
Headquarters: Portland, Oregon
Industry: Advertising
Company Size: Midsize (annual revenues of $50 million to $250 million)

"I have always dreamed that people in our business could work alongside artists. At the end of the day, creativity is creativity. And some of the most interesting people around are artists."
                – Dan Wieden, Chief Executive Officer and Founder

Objectives
To foster creativity among employees and members of the community, to make the arts more accessible, and to enhance its own business, as well as contribute to the development of the downtown business district in which it is located.

Process

• Wieden + Kennedy transformed an abandoned icehouse located in the Pearl District, an emerging creative center in downtown Portland, into a multi-purpose space that includes its headquarters, retail space, a community amphitheater, and the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art (PICA).
• As part of the renovation, the agency developed a $1 million in-kind lease gift for PICA, which allowed PICA to occupy the facility rent-free for the first three years, and thereafter at a reduced rental rate.
• Additionally, Wieden + Kennedy provides in-kind marketing and creative services to PICA, its executives serve on PICA’s Board, and visiting artists to PICA make presentations to agency staff members to nurture their creativity.

Results
By establishing its headquarters in the Pearl District and through its partnership with PICA, Wieden + Kennedy established a creative presence within its workplace, nurtured community interest in the arts, and served as a catalyst to bring other businesses and cultural organizations into this downtown neighborhood, which is now recognized as one of the fastest growing business-arts centers in Portland. In addition, the partnership has garnered much media attention for the agency and PICA, leading to new clients and visitors.

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