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Deacon Corp., a construction firm founded in Portland, has added industry veteran E.H. 鈥淐hip鈥� Laizure as vice president.

The hire is part of Deacon’s drive to double its portfolio of development projects.

鈥淐hip has experience in markets we haven’t been as deep in 鈥� like health care, senior living, technology,鈥� said chief executive Steve Deacon, who founded the company in 1981 with three partners. 鈥淲e want to expand our presence in those markets.鈥�

Laizure most recently served JE Dunn Construction Group. Before that, he was with Turner Construction Co.

Laizure was born and raised in Portland. He attended Lake Oswego High School and the University of Oregon.

鈥淭he thing I like about Deacon is they’re homegrown,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t’s a lot more enjoyable for me to work for a company that has its roots in Portland.鈥�

Laizure had a role in developing the Collaborative Life Sciences Building for Oregon Health & Science University, Portland State University and Oregon State University; Providence Health office parks and Legacy Health Good Samaritan Medical Center, among other projects.

Laizure said his longtime relationships in Portland help him make connections to get projects built.

鈥淚t’s not a big challenge for me to put together any or all of the entities you need for development,鈥� he said.

Deacon has about 350 employees, including approximately 80 in its office at 901 N.E. Glisan St. The firm each year completes projects totaling approximately $500 million.

Current or recent Deacon projects include:

鈥� a significant remodel of the Lloyd Center, including relocation of the iconic ice rink and construction of a new mall entrance on the north side.

鈥� Hotel Eastlund, 1021 N.E. Grand Ave. The 168-room hotel opened in May 2015, backed by Grand Ventures Hotel partners Alan Battersby, Desmond Mollendor, Lars Pedersen and Craig Schafer. The group previously developed Hotel Modera.

鈥� a new IKEA store in Renton, Wash. The phased project involves construction of the new store on existing parking, demolition of the existing store and then construction of additional parking in its place.

鈥� a New Seasons Market at 6300 N. Lombard St. that will open in March. Deacon developed and built the project.