Crews are constructing a trades education facility at Oregon Coast Community College‘s campus in Newport.

The 22,000-square-foot Oregon Coast Advanced Technology & Trades (OCATT) Center is expected to cost approximately $30 million, according to Dave Price, vice president of engagement at the college. Officials are drawing money from a $33 million bond approved by Lincoln County voters in May 2024 as well as an $8 million contribution from the state approved by the Oregon Legislature.

The project team consists of architect partners GLAS Architects of Eugene and Hacker, civil engineer Mazzetti, structural engineer KPFF, and general contractor Lease Crutcher Lewis.

Staffers in the OCATT Center will provide hands-on training in construction and carpentry, HVAC systems, welding, industrial facility maintenance, and maritime technology. Also, pre-apprenticeship programs will be expanded from once a year to year-round.

Although the college currently has 16 workspaces at its Port of Toledo welding lab, it does not have sufficient linear space for pipe fitting instruction. The new building will fill that void.

Construction/carpentry will be a new program for the college.

“There’s some interesting things happening in the local high schools that we’re working very closely with (Lincoln County) School District so that we’re not being duplicative, and we’re building on what they’re doing,” Price said.

The OCATT Center will have four primary workspaces: a build lab, a mechanical lab, an electronic lab, and a “dirty build” lab for metalwork, welding and work on diesel engines. The build lab will have a wet area for aquaculture work tied to the Aquarium Science building.

Spaces in the OCATT Center will be able to accommodate a variety of uses. The plan is for programming to shift according to the changing market demands of the area, Price said, so the spaces can be used for decades.

“Flexibility has been crucial from day one when we pitched this as a proposal to the voters,” he said.

Oregon Coast Community College also may adjust its programming in consideration of what’s being offered at other coastal colleges.

“When Tillamook Bay or Clatsop rolls out a new program or another new facility that their taxpayers provide, we want to be mindful of the fact that we don’t want to all be competing in the same space,” Price said.

Future programming in Newport could include aquaculture, maritime welding, commercial diving and welding, and more. College officials do not want to pursue a new program if there is not at least 10 years of potential capacity for businesses in the region to hire those students so they can leverage their education into good paying jobs, Price said.

The OCATT Center will be able to receive a lot of natural light through glazing at both the front and back. The exterior building material will be metal siding with slate green chevrons in a random design. Exposed mass timber will jut out under the roofline, as well as in the interior space. The inside will also feature white walls.

“It’s not going to be kind of dark and metal inside like what you might expect for an industrial building,” Price said. “We really want this to be a bright, modern learning space.”

A roll-up glass door will allow space for a truck to enter or a boat to be dropped off inside. That will let students work indoors on large vehicles or vessels.

The new facility will be across from the Aquarium Science building. The two buildings’ roof lines will slope down toward each other, Price said.

Construction of the OCATT Center is under way. In November and December, the lot was cleared and graveled. Trenching has been ongoing. Last week, workers started pouring foundations and footings, and walls will not be far behind, Price said.

The facility is expected to open in fall 2027.

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Several bond-funded Portland Community College campus improvement projects are progressing. The efforts are intended to modernize instructional spaces, improve wayfinding, address deferred maintenance needs, and enhance accessibility.

Voters in 2022 approved a $450 million bond measure. Currently, four major projects include a renovation of the Communications Technology (CT) Building at the Sylvania campus, a renovation of the west side of the Health Technology (HT West) Building at Sylvania, construction of a new building to hold automotive and construction technology programs and a renovation of Building 2 at the Rock Creek campus, and construction of a new health center in downtown Hillsboro.

“We also have accessibility, IT upgrades, safety upgrades, deferred maintenance, and a roof budget line item,” said Rebecca Ocken, director of planning and capital construction at PCC.

The CT Building will be fully renovated. As part of permanent relocation of “swing spaces,” the work will involve renovating the second floor of the Technology Classroom Building, renovating the Social Science Building, and remodeling select areas of the South Classroom Building.

Also, the Performing Arts Center plaza, bookstore plaza, and other common gathering areas will be revitalized to create a more accessible and vibrant campus.

The Sylvania campus entryway will also gain better accessibility, safety and wayfinding. Other improvements are planned for the area north of the CT Building, and the P11 parking lot.

“This year, we tried ‘Future Sylvania’ as an all-encompassing name to talk about not only CT, but HT West, swing spaces, the improvements to the campus entry, and all the deferred maintenance,” Ocken said. “There’s a lot going on.”

The CT Building project team includes architects BRIC Architecture and Studio Petretti, civil engineer KPFF, structural engineer VALAR Engineering of Clackamas, and general contractor Lease Crutcher Lewis. The project budget is about $65 million.

PCC officials expect construction of the CT Building project to start this fall and finish in about two years.

Meanwhile, crews are wrapping up the HT West renovation at Sylvania. Existing spaces are being enhanced to create a welcoming environment. Common spaces��are being updated to ensure accessibility and foster collaboration. Three��health care classrooms, and four��physical education rooms are being added.

Also, an inclusive locker room is being added, and the building’s��mechanical, electrical and roofing systems are being updated for greater energy efficiency.

The HT West project team includes Woofter Bolch Architecture and general contractor Fortis Construction. The project budget is around $30 million.

HT West is scheduled to reopen late this month for the spring quarter.

The construction of an approximately 14,000-square-foot building and the renovation of Building 2 at Rock Creek is in schematic design. The building currently houses career technical education (CTE) programs such as building construction, welding, and automotive collision repair as well as computer labs, general academic programs, student resource centers, collaboration spaces, and staff office and meeting areas. PCC plans to seek a land use permit to allow construction of a new building for automotive programs and construction technologies programs.

“(Those programs) will be pulled out of Building 2 and will give other CTE programs more space, and then we’ll renovate the existing building,” Ocken said.

The work will include enhancing views of the surrounding natural environment while providing more equitable spaces to support learning, and increasing wayfinding, accessibility, safety, and stormwater mitigation.

The Building 2 project team includes Bora Architecture & Interiors and general contractor Fortis Construction. DAO Architecture is designing the new building. The project budget is approximately $85 million.

Construction is expected to start in late 2027 and finish in spring 2032.

For the health center (focusing on health education and workforce development) on Block 56 in downtown Hillsboro, PCC is partnering with Hillsboro School District and Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center. The school district will own the land and PCC and VGMHC will lease classrooms and clinic space, respectively, in the building.

“We’re excited to have both Hillsboro (School District) and Virginia Garcia be such strong and collaborative partners with us with both the building and the programming that we’re offering students,” Ocken said. “We’ve had discussions for years, so finally bringing it to fruition is an exciting moment for everyone.”

The project’s budget is $20 million, with a plan for the team to seek additional funds to account for cost escalation. The budget will be revisited as the project progresses, Ocken stated in an email.

A request for bids from design firms will be issued this month and one could be selected by the summer. A request for proposals from general contractors is expected to be issued this fall.

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A 150,000-square-foot tenant improvement is underway in Vancouver, Washington. Tech leader ZoomInfo’s new headquarters will move from its current location at 805 Broadway St. to a four-story office at Terminal 1 along the Columbia River.

The Terminal 1 office building is technically two buildings, Block A and Block C, connected by a skybridge and a street level launch. ZoomInfo has leased both buildings from Lincoln Property Co. and will have the sixth floor in Block C and the 6-9 floors in Block A. The office will include waterfront access and parking.

Floors five and below are for parking with retail space on the first floor. There is also a fitness center and amenity conference training on the second floor.

Robertson & Olson Construction of Camas, Washington, was the contractor for the shell of the building and finished construction late last year. Lease Crutcher Lewis began the $30 million ZoomInfo tenant improvement project in May of last year. The tenant improvement is 150,000 square feet; the entire building is 300,000 square feet.

“We’re nearly crossing the finish line,” Kelly Nelson, senior project manager at Lewis, said.

The tenant improvement will be complete in mid-June. The project had a lot of significance for Lease Crutcher Lewis, as it is the largest tenant improvement project it has completed in the Portland Metro/Vancouver area, Nelson said.

The project team also includes GBD Architects, HVAC and plumbing by McKinstry, fire sprinklers by COSCO Fire Protection of Vancouver, electric and voltage by Christenson Electric and some structural engineering by KPFF.

Nelson said the tenant improvement includes a connecting stair between levels 8 and 9 in Block A. The structure is post-tensioned slab. Robertson & Olson left an opening for the stairs but there were some components Lewis had to add for the staircase itself. KPFF was the engineer for that work.

The tenant improvements will include the fitness center and training center on floor 2, conference areas, huddle rooms, open workstations, some large conference rooms, collaboration areas and break rooms.

“There’s great natural light and there’s great views of the river and the boardwalk,” said Matt Simpson, director and head of global real estate at ZoomInfo. “One of the things we wanted to do was increase the amount of collaboration space and conference rooms but also bring in the natural light, get our employees closer to the glass line and open up the floor plates so people are sitting closer to the glass line.”

Simpson said the building was designed with large floor plates. To increase the amount of collaboration space, GBD Architects designed a spine through the middle of each floor plate where the team has located conference rooms of varying sizes, huddle rooms and breakout spaces. This enabled the team to put open workstations near the glass.

One of the unique aspects of the project is that it is 64 percent female-led, with women on every level, from project executive to project coordinator. On the GBD Architects team, the lead architect is female. Almost the entire JLL team, which serves as owner’s representative for ZoomInfo, is also female.

Nelson and Simpson said this was not intentional for the project but was a bonus. Lewis strives to have diversity on their project teams and support women in the trades, they said. Simpson said it was a discussion point on ZoomInfo’s end but not a specific goal they made for the project.

Nelson said female-led projects are becoming more prevalent for Lewis, and over the years the number of women at Lewis has grown. She is also seeing more women in the trades in general. Simpson added that it feels more evenly split among project teams and teams feel more diverse.

The new office will open sometime in July with a ribbon cutting to celebrate the grand opening.

“There’s a lot of excitement from our employees about moving into the new space and being on the Vancouver waterfront,” Simpson said.

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A creative agency has signed a lease for a 19,489-square-foot space at Field Office in the North Pearl District.

The lease by Instrument is the third lease at Field Office since October, totaling approximately 35,000 square feet, according to Colliers, which represented the landlord. The building, completed in 2018, is owned by a joint venture of Goldman Sachs and Lincoln Property Co. through a limited liability company.

“Field Office continues to attract innovative companies looking for a high-quality office experience,” said Trevor Kafoury, vice chair of Colliers, in a news release. “Instrument’s decision to relocate here reflects the building’s premier location, top-tier amenities and the increasing demand for thoughtfully designed workspaces in Portland.”

Colliers said the lease reflects the “flight to quality” seen in the office market, whereby newer, more expensive Class-A office space is attracting tenants ahead of older Class-B and below office stock.

Vacancies have continued to grow in Portland’s office market, reaching 24.9 percent in the first three months of the year, according to Colliers.

Field Office comprises more than 300,000 square feet in twin six-story buildings. It was developed by Project^, designed by Hacker Architects and built by Lease Crutcher Lewis as general contractor.

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In the world of construction project management, Greg Elbert stands out as a paragon of dedication and precision, bringing more than 40 years of industry experience to every challenge he encounters.

Elbert’s leadership on Jackstraw, a Bend-area mixed-use apartment community under development by Killian Pacific, exemplifies his unique approach to construction management. Known for his proactive mindset, he consistently anticipates potential issues before they emerge, transforming potential obstacles into opportunities for excellence.

Cassidy Bolger, Killian Pacific’s director of development, describes Elbert as the kind of professional who goes beyond typical project protocols.
“When I see his number, I know it matters, so I always answer,” Bolger stated in Elbert’s Construction All-Star nomination form. Bolger noted Elbert’s communications often center on quality improvements, even if it means temporarily disrupting project timelines. “Greg’s dedication to quality and thoroughness is a vital part of the project’s success and speaks to his exceptional leadership,” he noted.

For Killian Pacific, Elbert has become synonymous with meticulous attention to detail. His on-site leadership demonstrates an organizational skill that keeps projects not just on track, but exceeding expectations. He represents a commitment to craftsmanship that transforms construction from a technical process to an art form, ensuring each project leaves a meaningful impact on the community.

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His deep knowledge of the project, paired with his quick problem-solving abilities, made him a natural leader on the jobsite, noted Chelsea Rooklyn, brand and impact manager with Killian Pacific, when nominating Keudell for an All-Stars award.

“Jake’s collaborative spirit and positive attitude were essential in maintaining team morale and ensuring a smooth workflow,” she wrote in his nomination. “His ability to address issues before they became setbacks, combined with his focus on coordination, was key to keeping the project on track.”

Keudell excelled in managing neighborhood relations, approaching local concerns with empathy and care. His commitment to being a good community partner ensured that the Jackstraw project maintained a positive presence in the surrounding area.

With more than 12 years of industry experience, Keudell’s approach goes beyond traditional project management. His ability to navigate complex technical details while maintaining a holistic view sets him apart. Colleagues describe him as the team’s “elephant” for his remarkable memory of minute project details.

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When rising interest rates threatened the project’s budget, Baker spearheaded cost-cutting measures that kept development on schedule without compromising quality. His approach demonstrated a nuanced understanding of both technical requirements and financial constraints.

“Matt Baker’s leadership and creative problem-solving have been instrumental in navigating the challenges of the Jackstraw project,” wrote Chelsea Rooklyn, brand and impact manager with Killian Pacific, when KP nominated Baker for All-Star recognition.

Baker has advocated for Killian Pacific’s commitment to social and environmental impact, as well as inclusive contracting and workforce development initiatives, aligning the team’s efforts with the company’s core values.

Baker is known as someone who consistently goes beyond his formal role, particularly during high-pressure situations. His steady guidance through unexpected economic challenges has become a hallmark of his leadership style.

Baker’s mentorship has empowered team members to take initiative, fostering a collaborative environment focused on shared success.

“Matt’s dedication to both the successes of the project and the long-term impact on the community makes him a standout leader in the industry,” Rooklyn wrote in the nomination form.

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Lease Crutcher Lewis has long demonstrated excellence in the construction industry. The company’s efforts on Jackstraw, a mixed-use project in Bend, is being commended for its collaborative approach rooted in mutual respect and accountability, fostering a positive worksite culture, and a commitment to diversity goals.

From the beginning, Lewis established strong partnerships between the owner, contractor and architect by creating a “Charter” of shared goals and expectations. This framework helped the team avoid typical construction roadblocks, resulting in on-time and on-budget delivery.
“In my 25 years in this field, I have not seen a better worksite culture,” noted Cassidy Bolger, director of development at Killian Pacific, in Lewis’ All-Star nomination form.

The company distinguished itself by fostering a positive environment focused on problem-solving rather than blame, with seamless teamwork across all levels from project executives to foremen.

Lewis also embraced Killian Pacific’s diversity, equity and inclusion goals, awarding 27.6 percent of the total contract value to MWBE, SDVBE and LGBTQ-owned firms. In addition, company’s workforce development efforts resulted in 22.7 percent of construction labor hours going to registered apprentices, with nearly half of those hours benefiting minority and women apprentices.

This commitment to inclusive contracting and workforce development was achieved while maintaining high standards of quality and safety throughout the project’s execution.

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PROJECT: New Road Ahead (Oregon Humane Society expansion)

LOCATION: 1067 N.E. Columbia Blvd., Portland

SIZE:��two buildings on 4.25 acres

COST:��$39.5 million

START DATE: March 2020 (site work); June 2021 (construction)

ANTICIPATED END DATE: summer 2022

OWNER/DEVELOPER: Oregon Humane Society

CONSTRUCTION/PROJECT MANAGER: inici Group

CONTRACTOR:��Lease Crutcher Lewis

ARCHITECT: Scott | Edwards Architecture

ENGINEERS: Humber Design Group, KPFF, PAE Consulting Engineers

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE/PLANNING: PLACE

SIGNIFICANCE OF PROJECT: After more than seven years of planning, the Oregon Humane Society’s most ambitious expansion project in its 153-year history – New Road Ahead – has begun. One new building will house a Behavior Rehabilitation and Rescue Center, and a second building will house an Animal Crimes Forensic Center and a Community Teaching Hospital. They will rise on land adjacent to the group’s existing campus in Northeast Portland. The project is intended to address some of the most pressing animal welfare issues: keeping pets and people together, and preventing animal cruelty and neglect.

The first building will hold 21,498 square feet on two stories. The Community Teaching Hospital will occupy the first floor. It will be the first clinic in Oregon dedicated to providing accessible veterinary care to low-income clients and their pets. The Animal Crimes Forensic Center – the first facility of its kind on the West Coast – will occupy the second floor. It will facilitate collection and analysis of evidence to build strong cases against animal abusers.

The second building will be one story and hold 13,876 square feet. The Behavior Rehabilitation and Rescue Center will be dedicated to helping traumatized pets heal in a safe environment.

Both buildings will feature specialized HVAC systems able to increase air circulation and prevent the spread of disease.

Excavator operators have already removed 2,875 tons of rock, asphalt and concrete from the site, which formerly was designated for industrial use. Crews will construct a tranquil landscape with bioswales, a rain garden and a dog walking path.

The New Road Ahead project will create more than 60 jobs.

The Oregon Humane Society is providing $3.5 million for the $39.5 million project; fundraising is under way for the remaining $36 million. To learn more and donate, visit www.oregonhumane.org/new-road-ahead.

“Building Blocks” spotlights noteworthy projects either under construction or approaching the start of construction. To submit a project for consideration, please visit: djcoregon.com/building-blocks.

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At Portland Community College’s Sylvania campus, in Southwest Portland, an aging concrete building will soon be transformed into a vibrant education hub.

The Health Technology building, constructed in the 1960s, is the third-oldest building on the Sylvania campus. The three-story concrete structure has a partial basement; currently, classrooms can be accessed only from the outside via covered walkways. Inside, low levels of light create a dark, contrasting environment making it difficult to perceive space.

A renovation of the Health Technology building is the largest project to come out of the 2017 bond measure in terms of scale, complexity and cost. The 100,000-square-foot renovation, covering the complex’s entire east side, will cost approximately $75 million.

Portland Community College is working with Hacker on the design. Lease Crutcher Lewis will serve as the contractor.

PCC’s managing architect, Krista Phillips, said the existing building was designed much like a strip mall – great when the weather is nice, but much less so when it’s not.

“(As) it exists today, its material (is) unwelcoming,” she said.

Because of the heavy-duty concrete, major framework adjustments or a rebuild would’ve been too tricky, Phillips said. All of the large concrete columns, low roofs, and overhanging walkways have to stay.

Instead, the design team devised a plan to open and warm up the interior spaces with wood features.

Currently, the atrium is one giant pathway with an oversize staircase, which takes up the entire space; the only thing students can do is pass through. Nick Hodges, a Hacker principal, said the new design opens the area up and shifts the stairs to create multiple platforms where students can stop and linger.

All of the building’s circulation also currently happens on the exterior walkways – creating a disconnection to the space.

Hodges said that around the 1960s, buildings were designed defensively as a response to unrest. This building was intended to allow occupants to park their motor vehicles, walk up and enter a classroom, and then leave without much interaction.

Today, there’s a shift toward collaborative spaces within academic buildings. Hodges said the team wanted the new design to address this idea. The building’s east wing will shift from a transitional zone into a collaborative one. All of the interior spaces and circulation will lead to the atrium; Hodges said this will allow students, faculty and staff to interact and connect better.

“The moves we’re doing are incredibly important and incredibly simple,” he said. “The bones of the building are so prominent that it drives so much of the response.”

All of the other design moves aim to create more visual connections to people and nature within the space, Hodges said. Nature helps ground people in their surroundings, he added, and that will be critical in this space.

Wood elements are being added throughout the building to create visual cues toward nature. Inside the atrium, Douglas fir panels are being added to the wall next to the staircase.

Expanding the views out of the building to nature is one simple move, Hodges said. The existing windows in the classrooms have dark-tinted glass. Instead of making a “big, bold, dramatic” move to a large window, glass is being replaced and a wood frame is being added.

“We knew that we needed to start fresh, with the exception of the structure,” Hodges said.

PCC’s students also requested that all bathrooms be made gender-free and an outdoor courtyard be created.

Trees and nature surround the campus, but there isn’t a place for students to congregate outside of classrooms. Hodges said the lawn is a really simple but important space.

For this whole renovation to occur, the building will need to be clear of all students, faculty and staff and stay unoccupied until spring 2023. The logistics of clearing the building had been one giant puzzle that took more than a year to complete, Phillips said. There are approximately seven programs that had to be transplanted throughout the campus or put into swing spaces. Fifteen additional projects emerged from this one project, she said.

Renovations are set to begin early this summer, after spring classes finish.

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