Project name: The Gloria CenterLocation: The Dalles

Completion: March 2024

Size: 9,975 square feet

Owner/Developer: Mid-Columbia Community Action Council

Architect: Access Architecture

Interior Designer: Access Architecture

Engineers: Method Landscape Architecture, AKS Engineering & Forestry (the previous Tenneson Engineering office), TM Rippey Consulting Engineers

General Contractor: Bremik Construction

Submitting Company: Bremik Construction

Other Key Partners: City of The Dalles, Housing Development Center

Subcontractors: Andres Landscape, Artistic Excavation, B & T Striping and Curbing, Bend Commercial Glass, Building Specialties Northwest, Center Pointe Signs, Chown Hardware Commercial CabinetWorks, Custom Designed Skylights, Devco Mechanical, Empire Painting, Fire Systems West, GRS Erectors, Hage Electric & Construction Services, HVAC, MB Structures, McDonald & Wetle, Mid Valley Commercial Construction, Mike’s Fence Center, Mission Construction, MLS Interiors dba K&D Window Coverings, Munsen Paving, Northwest Masonry Restoration, Overhead Door Co. of Portland, Rubenstein’s Carpet, Service Partners of Oregon/Silvercote, Standard TV & Appliance, VPI Quality Windows, Web Steel Buildings Northwest

The Gloria Center has opened its doors as a comprehensive hub for homeless and vulnerable residents in the Columbia River Gorge, offering both emergency shelter and centralized support services in one location.

The facility combines a navigation center housing multiple nonprofit agencies with 18 free-standing Pallet shelters providing 36 emergency beds for those experiencing homelessness in Hood River, Wasco and Sherman counties.

The navigation center brings together several partner organizations including Oregon Human Development Corporation, Mid-Columbia Center for Living, One Community Health, Nch’I Wana Housing and Bridges to Health. Community members can access housing assistance, behavioral and physical healthcare, utility support, weatherization services, veterans’ programs and employment resources all under one roof.

A distinctive feature of the project is its innovative design using three separate pre-engineered metal buildings seamlessly integrated into a single 10,000-square-foot structure, reducing costs while maintaining architectural integrity. The shelter housing has been arranged into smaller neighborhoods sharing a central community garden, with input from existing shelter residents during the design phase.

Access Architecture’s design prioritized trauma-informed and universal design principles. This is reflected in features such as rounded corners for safety, intuitive wayfinding, a calming color palette and warm wood accents. A dedicated nursing room is included off the employee breakroom to support staff needs. Large windows allow ample daylight and provide a visual connection to the Gorge landscape. Skylights and clerestory windows bring daylight into the building’s core.

The facility emphasizes sustainability with a 97-kilowatt solar array paired with battery storage, which can generate 115,000 kilowatt-hours annually and offset 138,000 pounds of carbon emissions. This system provides approximately 34 percent energy savings and allows the center to function at 90 percent capacity for up to 48 hours during power outages.

Beyond providing everyday services, The Gloria Center serves as an emergency shelter during extreme weather events.

The project resulted from collaboration between Bremik Construction, Access Architecture, Housing Development Center and MCCAC, with support from the City of The Dalles. MCCAC has operated scattered-site shelters for over a decade, but The Gloria Center now provides these services a permanent home.

During the bidding process, Bremik’s preconstruction team leveraged their local expertise and experience from six other projects in the area to achieve a nearly 50 percent local and 22 percent MWESB firm utilization on this project, including installers and suppliers from within a 25-mile-radius of the project site.

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Project name: Sequoia Crossings

Location: Salem

Completion: January 2024

Size: 51,943 square feet

Cost: $17,184,488

Owner/Developer: Salem Housing Authority in collaboration with Enterprise Community Partners

Architect: Pinnacle Architecture

Interior Designer: Pinnacle Architecture

Engineers: AKS Engineering, Froelich Engineers, Sazan Group

General Contractor: LMC Construction

Submitting Company: LMC Construction

Other Key Participants: Housing Development Center, Oregon Housing and Community Services, Enterprise Community Partners, Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency, City of Salem, Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program

Subcontractors: All Trades, Ambrose Glass, B & T Striping, Bell Gutter, Carlson Roofing, Cedar Landscape, Civic Construction, Environmental Works, Frontier Metal Fabrications, Halsey Design, Home Insulation, IM Construction, Jet Industries, Knife River Corp. Northwest, KO Construction, Lanz Cabinets, Life Rax, Merit Contractor of Oregon, National Precast, Northside Electric, Northwest Door & Supply, Northwest Masonry Restoration, Outdoor Play & Amenities, Patriot Fire Protection, Pilot Development – US Mailboxes, Pioneer Sheet Metal, Precision Countertops, Standard TV & Appliance, Steven Waldroup Construction

A new permanent supportive housing complex in Salem is transforming lives for formerly homeless residents while setting a standard for innovative design and comprehensive services.

Sequoia Crossings, located at 2950 Broadway St. NE, offers 60 units designed specifically for individuals transitioning from homelessness to stable housing. The complex includes 54 one-bedroom and six two-bedroom apartments, accommodating both individuals and small families.

What sets the community apart is its holistic approach; every aspect of the design considers the target population, according to the Salem Housing Authority, which developed the project in collaboration with Enterprise Community Partners.

The complex was developed using data collected from local homeless support organizations and during annual HUD Point in Time counts, revealing a high likelihood of residents owning pets and living with neurodevelopmental disorders.

Sequoia Crossings incorporates trauma-informed design principles throughout the facility. Each apartment door opens to a courtyard with open sightlines, addressing safety concerns shared by individuals with lived experience of homelessness who provided input during the design phase.

The design’s primary aim was to create a space that residents are proud to call home. The non-institutional appearance features varied roof lines, bright colors, and amenities focused on adults, including bean bag toss games, outdoor seating areas and ping pong tables. Elements that make it easier for individuals to bring a pet include dog agilitity courses, assigned pet relief areas and hard flooring. Residents have access to 24/7 on-site support services connecting them with medical care, addiction and mental health treatment, educational opportunities, employment referrals, and counseling.

The project represents a significant investment, with funding from multiple sources including $7.7 million from Oregon Housing and Community Services, $9.4 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, $1.6 million in HOME funding from the City of Salem, and contributions from the Salem Housing Authority.

The development follows the Housing First model, which prioritizes stable housing as a foundation for addressing other social issues. Tenants receive subsidized rent through housing vouchers or Permanent Supportive Housing rental assistance.

The project’s success stemmed from collaboration between key organizations including the Salem Housing Authority, Housing Development Center, Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency, and Enterprise Community Partners, who worked together to navigate challenges including rising costs and logistical complexities.

The project had a MBE/WBE/ESB participation rate of 11.24 percent.

“This project offers a safe and secure home and ensures access to essential health services, making it a model for future affordable housing initiatives,” noted Chris Duffin, LMC Construction president, in the project submission form.

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