�ճ����Oregon Concrete & Aggregate Producers Association (OCAPA) and the Oregon chapter of the American Concrete Institute (OACI) celebrated the top projects in their industry during the 46th annual Excellence in Concrete Awards banquet on May 1 at the Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel.

In addition, the organizations recognized Jim Lang of LaRusso Concrete with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Lang has worked in the concrete industry for more than 40 years. Originally based in Denver, he moved to Seattle and then Portland, serving in various capacities with LaRusso from apprentice, cement mason and foreman, to superintendent, branch manager, president, owner and board chair.

In 1996, Lang opened LaRusso’s Portland branch, and in 2007 he purchased the company; he later sold it to his employees in 2018. He stayed on as president until retiring in 2023, and he remains the acting board chair.

Lang was a member of the Local 555 union his entire career. He was involved with OACI for several years in various roles, including as a board member, committee member and examiner. He is known for advocating for training and education of the next generation of leaders.

In addition, owners, architects, engineers, concrete suppliers, contractors and concrete finishers were recognized for their projects in Oregon and Southwest Washington. Projects were recognized for sustainability, innovation and design.

Eight category winners were selected:

Bridges

Project: US 97 & US 20 Bend North Corridor – Flyover Bridge, Bend

Owner/developer: state of Oregon

Engineer: Kiewit

General contractor: Kiewit

Concrete contractor: Marcum & Sons

Ready-mix supplier: Knife River

Decorative

Project: Inlow Hall Grand Staircase at Eastern Oregon University, LaGrande

Owner/developer: Eastern Oregon University

Engineer: AHBL

Architect: Peter Meijer Architect

General contractor: Garco Construction

Ready-mix supplier: RD Mac LaGrande Ready-Mix

Education

Project: Reed College Sports Center, Portland

Owner/developer: Reed College

Engineer: KPFF

Architect: ZGF Architects

General contractor: Fortis Construction

Concrete contractor: Pence/Kelly Concrete

Ready-mix supplier: Glacier Northwest/CalPortland

Concrete finishing: LaRusso Concrete

Additional contributor: R2M2 Rebar & Stressing

Infrastructure

Project: Palensky Highway 30 Wildlife Underpass, Portland

Owner/developer: Columbia River Estuary Study Taskforce

Engineer: Murraysmith

Architect: Murraysmith

General contractor: Moore Excavation Inc.

Concrete contractor: Whitaker/Ellis Builders

Ready-mix supplier: CalPortland

Concrete finishing: Whitaker/Ellis Builders

Low-rise

Project: QTS HIL2 – DC2, DC3, DC5, Hillsboro

Owner/developer: QTS

Engineer: Peoples Associates Structural Engineers (PASE)

Architect: Sheehan Nagle Hartray Architects

General contractor: HITT Contracting

Concrete contractor: Whitaker/Ellis Builders

Ready-mix supplier: CalPortland

Concrete finishing: Whitaker/Ellis Builders

Mid-rise

Project: Waterfront Block 7 Parking, Vancouver, Washington

Owner/developer: Gramor Development

Engineer: JWSE Structural Engineers

Architect: International Parking Design

General contractor: Robertson & Olson Construction

Concrete contractor: Marion Construction

Ready-mix supplier: CalPortland

Concrete finishing: Industrial Concrete

Paving & Flatwork

Project: Cottage Grove Main Street Revitalization, Cottage Grove

Owner/developer: city of Cottage Grove

Engineer: Branch Engineering

Architect: Dougherty Landscape Architects

General contractor: Wildish Construction

Concrete contractor: Wildish Construction

Ready-mix supplier: RiverBend Materials, a CRH Company

Concrete finishing: Wildish Construction

Repair & Restoration

Project: DAS Executive Building Renovation, Salem

Owner/developer: state of Oregon

Engineer: KPFF

Architect: SERA Architects

General contractor: Pence Contractors

Concrete contractor: Pence/Kelly Concrete

Ready-mix supplier: WCP

Concrete finishing: LaRusso Concrete

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The build-out of Northwest Portland is continuing apace, and general contractor Bremik Construction is doing its part for the six-story Saltwood North project.

The mixed-use development was designed by SERA Architects for half of a superblock in Portland’s Slabtown neighborhood. The six-story building will have 177 market-rate apartments above ground-floor retail space. There will be two levels of underground parking.

Bremik Construction is self-performing all structural concrete work, as well as installations of windows and wood siding.

Recently, LaRusso Concrete crews were at the site to assist with the largest single-day concrete pour Bremik Construction has carried out as a general contractor since it was founded in 2004. The pour of 1,700 cubic yards covered the first half of the building’s foundation slab; the second followed shortly thereafter.

“Kicking it off with the foundation obviously kicks off all of our vertical concrete and lets us go up instead of down,” Bremik Construction superintendent Josh Ring said.

Saltwood North is one half of the entire Saltwood project being developed by Cairn Pacific for owner Prometheus Real Estate Group on a Con-Way master-planned block bordered by Northwest 20th and 21st avenues, and Savier and Quimby streets. Saltwood South (with only one level of underground parking) is being constructed by general contractor R&H Construction and will rise on a nearly identical parcel.

In total, Saltwood will provide 354 new apartments and 17,000 square feet of commercial space. Saltwood North alone will feature a spa, a swimming pool, a steam room, a sauna and other amenities like a rooftop deck and a lounge.

Excavation and site work for Saltwood North began in August. Substantial completion is expected by winter 2021.

“It’s pretty exciting to be able to be involved with a good-sized pour like this,” Ring said. “We looked at trying to do this all in one whack, but it’s really tough to get all the variables to line up to work – weather being one of the most important. It’s got to time out.”

Work on the first concrete pour started at 2 a.m., Ring said, so that trucks would have easier access to the site. Crews poured about 290 yards per hour on average, which he called a really good rate.

“The challenge is if you try to pull this off on a weekday, the rush hour just kills you,” he said. “Having this dry November has been awesome. And from a concrete perspective we’ll probably be wrapping up about August with all the structural concrete. We’re just pumped right now to be able to start going vertical.”

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The first deck pour was carried out earlier this month for Beacon Lake Oswego, a four-story mixed-use building that will bring office, retail and event space to the city’s downtown. Crews with Bremik Construction, the project’s general contractor, and placement and finishing subcontractor LaRusso Concrete carried out a 580-cubic-yard pour March 1 to form the first floor of the post-tensioned concrete structure.

The Mackenzie-designed building is located in the heart of Lake Oswego, along Third Street between B and C avenues. It is being developed by 10 Branch, a family office consisting of members of the Haladay family – including managing director Miles Haladay, formerly of Viewpoint Construction Software, and his father, retired Viewpoint CEO and board chairman Jay Haladay.

According to Miles Haladay, a Lake Oswego resident, the family saw opportunities for niche event and office space in the city’s downtown core.

“We are firm believers in the downtown Lake Oswego area,” he said. “I like to call it a ‘boutique urban’ environment, an urban environment without the problems of downtown Portland.”

Ironlight, the top-floor event center created by Haladay family members, was borne of a lack of options outside Portland to hold events with 200-250 person capacity. The top floor will feature two decks with panoramic views, so large weddings and other events can be held either indoors or outdoors as weather permits.

The second and third floors, meanwhile, will be occupied by CENTRL Office, a Portland-based co-working startup. Downtown Lake Oswego, Haladay says, offers an attractive alternative to Portland.

“I think people are going to get tired of the traffic downtown and look for other options to be working in,” he said. “Downtown Lake Oswego … provides the best of both worlds. Everything you need you can walk to, but you don’t have the traffic that you have to deal with in downtown Portland.”

The building will hold about 10,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space, some of which Haladay envisions being leased by a boutique market with coffee and grab-and-go food items. Parking for about 116 vehicles will be provided in below- and at-grade garage space.

Haladay cites recent growth in Lake Oswego’s downtown area, including PHK Development‘s Windward and Sturgeon Development Partners‘ North Anchor, as well as older projects like Gramor Development‘s Lake View Village, as evidence of a strong boutique urban core.

“Who’d have thought you’d have a Bamboo Sushi here, or a Salt and Straw, ten years ago?” he said. “I think this is just the beginning of downtown Lake Oswego becoming stronger and stronger.”

The project is scheduled for completion in early 2020, ideally in time for the first event at Ironlight – Jay Haladay’s 70th birthday party – to take place on Feb. 21.

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The Gresham-Barlow School District is building two new elementary schools this year with money from a $291 million bond measure approved by district voters in 2016. Ground has been broken on the first facility: North Gresham Elementary School on Southeast 217th Avenue.

This new school, which is being built to replace an existing one, will include: better classroom layouts to improve student flow, improved daylight and HVAC systems, a better learning environment stocked with modern technology, and safety and security upgrades. The latter will provide secured entry to playing fields and the playground, a secured entry vestibule and improved bus parking and parental pick-up areas.

Last week, crews with general contractor Bremik Construction and LaRusso Concrete, subcontracted for the place and finish of concrete, poured the first set of concrete panels for the tilt-up structure. A total of 56 panels will be poured before a lift day scheduled for next month. Construction will continue throughout the current school year and the new facility is expected to open in time for the 2019-20 school year.

In addition to general contractor Bremik Construction, the project team includes BBT Architects and Cornerstone Management, which is performing construction management for the school district.

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“Oh, look how lovely this is!” Nancy Ross said, as she ventured outside for the first time in months.

The Lents resident has been wheelchair-bound at home since February, making it impossible for her to traverse the steps outside her front and back doors. A newly-installed ramp and sidewalk built last week as part of REACH‘s Community Builders Program have enabled Ross to leave the house, allowing her to age in place in her home of more than 20 years.

Several local building industry firms donated time and materials to the project. Bremik Construction led the improvement effort, donating the labor of a team of carpenters and laborers over the course of the week. Cudahy Lumber contributed material for the build, LaRusso Concrete donated material and the services of a cement mason, and Duke Excavation provided labor.

The accessibility upgrades to Ross’ home were made as part of national NeighborWorks Week, which aims to engage volunteers, businesses and neighbors in community improvement projects. A lack of money to make accessibility upgrades can lead to residents leaving their homes, and REACH is working to help low-income households in the Lents neighborhood retain their homes.

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