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Hermann Colas started his own construction company after dealing with an incompetent private contractor during the construction of his home. He envisioned a family business, and developed and self-financed all of his initial projects.

Today his son, Andrew, serves as president and CEO, and his daughter, Aneshka Colas-Dickson, is vice president and CFO. The company garnered the state鈥檚 largest public works contract to be awarded to a minority-owned prime contractor when it was selected to lead the $39 million renovation of the Oregon Convention Center. Colas Construction鈥檚 leaders also ensured that many other minority-owned companies were on the project team.

鈥淚 would say this is unprecedented in many states and across the country, not just the state of Oregon. When I shared our subcontracting results at the National Association of Minority Contractors, they were floored that 56 percent of our subs are certified by the Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity (COBID),鈥� Andrew Colas said.

Heather Back, communications and policy development program manager for Metro, which owns the convention center, said the company鈥檚 reputation and status in the community have played a key role in the renovation project鈥檚 success.

鈥淐olas Construction鈥檚 20-plus years of experience and strong relationships proved extremely helpful in the current industry boom, resulting in an unprecedented response and corresponding awards to minority firms,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd the COBID contracting and workforce numbers are also impressive, creating a diverse workforce at all levels.鈥�

Renovation of the 30-year-old convention center includes numerous upgrades to its public spaces and ballrooms, as well as a reconstruction of the exterior plaza on the northeast corner. The renovation design inspiration brings Oregon鈥檚 landscape aesthetics inside the convention center with lichen-like carpets. More than 1,000 individual, suspended pieces make up one of the ballroom鈥檚 ceiling, which is designed to look like a forest canopy.

Improvements to the convention center鈥檚 north plaza are designed to provide enhanced space to serve clients, as well as improve wayfinding for adjacent hotel guests and public transit commuters from the MAX station to the building鈥檚 main entries. The renovation work is scheduled to be complete in October to coincide with the opening of the Hyatt Regency Portland.