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The renovation and build-out of Linfield University’s new state-of-the-art science center had the usual construction hurdles — and some that were exclusive to the project itself.

The approximately $37.4 million project created a comprehensive 84,400-square-foot complex of science spaces on the McMinnville Campus.

It is the first major capital project at the university since the renovation of T.J. Day Hall in 2011, which transformed a vacant library built in 1936 into a highly sustainable, green building that is LEED Gold certified.

鈥淭he Linfield science complex 鈥� the new W.M. Keck Science Center and renovations of Graf and Murdock halls 鈥� is the one of the largest capital projects in Linfield’s history, and with good reason,鈥� said Joseph Hunter, Linfield University’s vice president for university advancement, in an email. 鈥淲e want to give our students every advantage as they graduate and move into the workforce.鈥�

The science complex comprises the new 24,000-square-foot W.M. Keck Center, designed by SRG Partnerships, substantial renovations to the existing Graf Hall (built in 1964) and a new 11,200-square-foot addition, plus a minor remodel of Murdock Hall (built in 1982).

Despite the project finishing on time earlier this month, the last two years of construction had been no easy feat.

鈥淚 wouldn’t say it’s a standard build by any means,鈥� said Aaron Elliott, senior project manager at Walsh Construction. 鈥淚 mean, any science building is not a standard build. It’s very customized to what the owner needs.鈥�

In the case of Linfield, it meant an overall increase to the science department consisting of specific lab and classroom spaces for chemistry, physics and biology, including a clean room (an engineered space void of dust and airborne particles). The new addition that connects Keck to Graf will also have an area dedicated to the wine studies programs with a walk-in cooler.

However, the degree of particular products and materials needed for a project like this came when construction faced supply chain bottlenecks and an ongoing worker shortage.

It has been challenging, to say the least, Elliott said. The specificity of all the different materials and equipment for the building meant that only a select number of trade partners could do the work. Elliott said they brought in partners for the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire sprinklers and lab work about six to seven months before construction. Despite those efforts, he said there were problems with worker availability.

The procurement side wasn’t any easier. There are a small number of manufacturers that could make some products, like epoxy countertops, lab hoods and rooftop exhaust fans, Elliott said. The hardest challenge was getting items on-site when needed, which has been an industrywide problem.

He said that windows for the project were ordered in January 2022 but arrived in August because the manufacturer had no glass to construct them. Additionally, wireless access locks that were ordered in January of last year and expected to arrive on-site two months later only appeared in December.

鈥淵ou know, when you have 90 percent of what you need to build,鈥� Elliott said, 鈥測ou don’t have 100 percent of what you need to build. So, the missing parts and tracking down all those has been a challenge.鈥�

He added that some products, like the faucets and gas turrets, will not even arrive until this summer due to long lead times. In the meantime, temporary ones have been installed.

The new science complex is Walsh Construction’s eighth project for Linfield University on the McMinnville Campus. Students returned to the building last Friday and a ribbon cutting ceremony is set for Feb. 24.

鈥淚t has not been a typical time to build in the last year and a half by any means,鈥� Elliott said. 鈥淚 think a lot of contractors are dealing with the same. I think it compounded on this based on the complexity of the systems and the things that go into it.鈥�