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Work on a major renovation and expansion of Building 5 at Portland Community College‘s Rock Creek campus is nearing substantial completion. The project is part of $63 million of bond-funded upgrades to the campus, for which Fortis Construction is serving as the construction manager/general contractor in partnership with MWESB firms Faison Construction and Northwest Infrastructure. Planning and design for campus upgrades are being handled by Opsis Architecture.

Work on the project began in August 2014 with partial demolition of the building. An existing gymnasium, weight room, and shower facilities were kept in place. A total of 22,000 square feet were demolished and rebuilt, and an additional 40,000 square feet were added to the building.

The expanded facility will be a main hub for student life and will house a new cafeteria and dining area, bookstore, multipurpose fitness studio, study space, faculty and student government offices, and health and wellness labs. The gymnasium floor was refinished, and two gender-neutral restrooms were built.

A temporary certificate of occupancy is expected to be issued in mid-October, and the building will open by the start of the winter term in January 2016.