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In Southeast Portland, construction crews have topped out a three-story, 62,700-square-foot affordable housing development.

Colas Construction is serving as the general contractor for Centennial Place, at 3800 S.E. 164th Ave. Scott | Edwards Architecture provided the design.

The 71-unit project, developed by Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare, is intended to serve people with mental illness as well as families with at least one child enrolled in the Centennial School District. Plans call for 18 of the apartments to serve households earning 0 to 30 percent of the area median income (AMI). The remaining 53 apartments will be for households earning up to 60 percent of AMI.

鈥淭he topping out of a project is always exciting,鈥� Scott | Edwards Architecture associate Hayley Purdy stated in an email. 鈥淏ut there is something about projects like Centennial Place, that serve a vital role in the community and take a proactive approach to sustainable design, that make the moment feel extra special.鈥�

The structure is designed to have a mix of gabled and flat roof. Recently, crews prepped the flat-top portion to be solar-ready. A fall protection system was also installed for building maintenance crews to use when working on the roof.

The different roofing systems have become a special point of attention during construction, Colas Construction superintendent Andrew Milette said. Due to the structure’s U shape and courtyard design, the way it carries the shear loads is unique, he added.

A gabled roof, with peaks and valleys, works much differently than a flat roof. However, use of both kinds was not as much of a challenge but rather a nuance, Milette said, that creates different conditions throughout the building.

Since construction kicked off in June 2021, crews have had to grapple with an ever-changing supply market. That’s been more of a challenge, Milette said.

鈥淚t’s something that has been very volatile through construction,鈥� he said.

Items anticipated to have an eight-week delivery time saw that jump to 16 to 20 weeks. In the case of the exterior siding, supplier James Hardie briefly shut down its plant in Summerville, South Carolina, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Centennial Place project team had to play a waiting game, Milette said.

It was all about trying to respond as quickly as possible 鈥� and so far, that tactic has paid off, he said.

The siding was purchased and delivered to the site several weeks before it was needed. A critical piece in the acquisition of materials, Milette said, has been finding a middle ground to store materials or having the manufacturer hold them before use.

鈥淒oing that has helped keep cost to a minimum too,鈥� he said, 鈥渂ecause we’re seeing so much material (price) escalation.鈥�

The Centennial Place project team is on track to complete work in October 2022. Earth Advantage gold certification is being targeted.