Washington County technology giant Tektronix is planning to get a little smaller — at least physically. Company officials have announced plans to consolidate the space it uses at its headquarters campus, leading to a smaller footprint in the Beaverton area. Buildings and space the company isn’t using will be sold or leased out, according to officials.
“Like many companies across the US and abroad, the COVID-19 pandemic changed when and where Tektronix employees work,” a company spokesperson wrote in an email to OPB. “The shift in how and where our employees work, combined with our intent to create a modernized, connected, and collaborative way of working, led us to explore optimizing our Beaverton campus including an opportunity to lease or sell vacated buildings and options for capital improvements.”
Tektronix, Inc. in Beaverton, 2015.
Courtesy of Steve Morgan
Tektronix’s presence near Beaverton dates back to the 1950s, when the company purchased more than 300 acres for what would become a headquarters and manufacturing facilities.
According to real estate listings, Tektronix is initially looking to lease two buildings, both on the northwest side of campus. One is a two-story office space referred to as “Building 58″ totaling 195,000 square feet. The other is listed as 84,000 square feet of office space in what’s called “Building 55.”
The decision to lease or sell parts of the campus shouldn’t be interpreted as part of any effort to move out of Washington County, according to an official statement from the company.
A spokesperson for the company wrote, “We are committed to keeping our global headquarters and current manufacturing facilities on our Beaverton campus and we continue to work with our real-estate partners and local governments to determine the best uses for the campus.”
Tektronix and nearby Nike are located in unincorporated Washington County, just outside the Beaverton city limits.
Tektronix suggests that selling or leasing property the company isn’t using can open areas for “much needed in-fill development in Beaverton,” and could help company leaders improve current office space.
Tektronix has been a fixture in Beaverton, Ore., for decades. A woman assembles an oscilloscope at Tektronix in the 1950s.
Courtesy of Ed Sinclair, vintageTEK.org
Beaverton city manager Jenny Haruyama said the city considers Tektronix a “great partner” and officials were looking forward to the company’s next steps.
“We also welcome additional opportunities for existing or emerging community needs, and if their corporate goals happen to create sustainable redevelopment that aligns with city priorities, we welcome the potential,” Haruyama said in an email to OPB.
Editor’s Note: The story has been updated to include a statement from the Beaverton city manager and to clarify that the Tektronix campus is located outside the city of Beaverton.