Since its conception in 2006, the Portland, Oregon-based collaborative project known as the PDX Lounge has actively redefined the nature of the business network.  Assembling diverse regional partners in sustainability, the PDX Lounge has shown value in bridging the divide between urban and rural, and public and private.  Through cooperation among diverse interests, this innovative organization aims to enable all partners, even those who usually see each other as competitors, to more readily incubate ideas, innovate, and grow.  These bolder strokes of the vision embraced by the PDX Lounge are representative of the way in green industries must move – away from competition and into more active collaboration – if they are to remain vital in today’s hypercompetitive business climate.

This week the PDX Lounge hit the road, moving to Chicago for the U.S. Green Building Council's annual Greenbuild Expo, which runs until November 9.  Taking up residence in a 20,000 square foot space near the Chicago Exposition Center, the PDX Lounge will offer a space in which Greenbuild conference attendees, business leaders, industry practitioners, news media and political influentials will gather, discuss, share and evolve innovation in sustainable economic development.