Portwalk Receives Prestigious Design Award

Portwalk, a master planned 450,000 square foot mixed-use development in downtown Portsmouth, has received the Visualizing Density Award 2012 for “Best Urban Design.”

The New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority (NHHFA) and Plan NH sponsored the Visualizing Density awards to site excellent examples of residential and mixed-use developments at a range of densities throughout New Hampshire.

Cathartes Private Investments is the owner and developer of Portwalk and Pro Con Inc was the architect and construction manager for themulti-phased project, which includes a Marriott Residence Inn, a Hilton Garden Inn, The Harbor Events and Conference Center, and The Residences at Portwalk. The final phase of the project is scheduled to break ground at the end of this year.

“We are very pleased to accept this award,” stated Jeff Johnston of Cathartes Private Investments. "In collaboration with the City of Portsmouth, the goal of the master plan was to knit the project back into Portsmouth’s historic downtown. Our vision is that once the final phase is completed, Portwalk will become a signature residential, hospitality and restaurant destination.”

Portwalk was sited as being a good example of density because it combines location, site planning and architectural design to create a development that uses land efficiently, has a pleasing design aesthetic, promotes walking and is easily accessible to other services. The Portwalk project, which has attained LEED Gold, promotes sustainability, reduces energy use, promotes a healthy lifestyle, and reduces infrastructure costs.

As part of Plan NH’s Vibrant Villages NHinitiative, the 2012 Visualizing Density Award winners will be recognized at the October 30th Housing Conference and will become part of the NHHFA’s Visualizing Density Database that will become a free resource for municipalities and developers to use.

Cathartes Private Investments (www.cathartesprivate.com) is a private real estate development and investment company. Over the last ten years, the company has invested and developed over $500 million in commercial real estate, including several projects in Portsmouth, New Hampshire; the Hilton Garden Inn, the Harbour Hill Condominiums, and Portwalk.

Pro Con, Inc is a full service architecture, engineering and construction management firm specializing in commercial, hospitality, institutional, industrial and multi-family residential projects. The company is recognized as an industry leader and is known for their single source design-build delivery system, “The Diamond Solution.”

Submitted by Sally Stebbins, Cathartes Private Investments, Boston, Mass.