Aquatic center projects are rare these days, according to Triplett Wellman project manager Steve Duch, so a new one for Chehalem Park & Recreation District is a bit of a big deal. The 40,000-square-foot facility in Newberg features two pools – a 25-yard-long one for competition and a smaller, shallower one for leisure and play. A grand opening for the Chehalem Aquatic and Fitness Center took place June 7.

“There are not a lot done,” Duch said. “There are only a handful in the state that have been completed in the last 10 or 15 years.”

The new facility is replacing Newberg’s existing L-shaped pool, which was built in 1970. That building is now connected to the new one, and its pool will be filled in with gravel so that it can be topped by a gymnasium. The entire $18 million project is being paid for with money from a $19.9 million bond measure approved by voters in 2014.

Construction of the new aquatic center was the first phase. Rehabilitation of the old building is the second phase. Work on that portion is under way, with completion expected around Thanksgiving, Duch said.

Public demand for aquatic services and physical deterioration of the old facility drove the project forward, said Jim McMaster, parks and facilities supervisor for the Chehalem Park & Recreation District and its project manager for the aquatic center project. He likened the condition of the old pool’s miles of corroded piping to sclerotic arteries.

“Your arteries get older and they get smaller and smaller,” he said. “And the pipes in the pool are like those arteries.”

The old pool was beloved, but long in the tooth, according to Scott | Edwards Architecture senior associate Jennifer Marsicek.

“I constantly run into people that grew up with that pool,” she said. “There’s some nostalgia for the old building, but people are excited for the new pool. Competitive swimming is a big part of that community, so they needed the two pools and the locker room areas to support it. It gets pretty crazy in the existing pool when they’re all trying to have a swim.”

Marsicek led a design team that crafted an open, well-lit pool space able to capitalize on natural light much more than its predecessor. Also, coated windows reduce the amount of UV light entering the building. Finally, a rooftop photovoltaic array allows the project to receive an Energy Trust of Oregon tax rebate.

“We really tried to drill down on the energy side,” she said. “And a lot of that came from the mechanical system and the boiler system.”

The new aquatic center and its two pools also lack the distinct chemical odor of chlorine and other volatile substances used in pool filtration and cleaning. The air filtration system blows a constant stream of air across the water’s surface. Then, that air, which contains chloramines, or substances that are formed when chlorine binds with sweat and other body wastes, is expelled outside on the opposite end.

“You don’t even appreciate it until you walk through the space,” Duch said. “It’s the mechanical system that’s designed to recirculate air off the pool and bring it back into the mechanical system and exhaust the majority outside. The design team very purposely designed the project to minimize the pool smell, and so far it’s been successful.”

Pool water is heated by hydronic, air-to-water heat pumps. And a next-generation regenerative media filter is used. This tool can be programmed to regenerate the layer of media – in this case, perlite – used to filter the pool water. It can be done daily or in longer intervals. But by ensuring use of fresh perlite each day, the system can work at top efficiency.

“It’s constantly reconfiguring how the water is filtered,” McMaster said. “It’s probably the most efficient system on the market right now.”

Now, demolition of the old pool interior is under way.

“They will … probably start draining the old pool within a couple of weeks,” Marsicek said. “That will take a number of days, and then they’ll punch holes in the concrete shell and fill it in with gravel.”

The refurbished building will have a track that also serves as a raised balcony around the main gymnasium. These are amenities the park district heretofore has been unable to offer.

In short, the design was all about creating more space.

“From the infant-toddler age all the way to seniors and how it works for all those people – that was really important,” Marsicek said. “Everyone had their thing, but creating a facility and space that works for everyone … was one of the biggest challenges.”

Woodburn-based Triplett Wellman is one of the few Oregon contractors with recent experience building a swimming pool, having completed the Northern Wasco County Aquatic Center in 2015. The first phase of the Chehalem project went well, Duch said.

“It was a good project,” he said. “Obviously it’s a very complicated facility, but overall, I think it went as well as could have been expected based on the inherent challenges of a pool structure.”

Along with Woodburn-based Triplett Wellman and Scott | Edwards Architecture, the project team includes Interface Engineering, WDY Structural + Civil Engineers and WHPacific (landscape architecture).

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Providence Health & Services is preparing to expand its presence on the southwestern edge of the Portland-metro area.

The health care giant recently unveiled plans for a new three-story, 60,000-square-foot medical office building near the existing Providence Newberg Medical Center off of Oregon Route 99W in Newberg. A is being reviewed by the city of Newberg, which has 120 days from the date of submission to either give or withhold approval.

“It’s the largest new (medical clinic) project for the Oregon region this year, so there’s quite a bit of excitement around it,” Providence Health & Services senior construction manager Weston York said. “You don’t get to build a greenfield medical office very often anymore, so it’s kind of exciting to do that.”

The new clinic will provide outpatient oncology services such as chemotherapy treatment and pharmaceutical sales, and rehabilitation services as well. The project has been in the works for several years, York said.

“The original hospital was built in the early or mid-2000s,” he said. “And there has been such growth in the market that there is the need to grow our primary care group, as well as an expanded cancer service line.”

After construction wraps up and services move from the main hospital building, Providence plans to renovate a portion of the latter building. Altogether, the projects will have a budget of $46.7 million.

“Once services move out of hospital to new building there’s a project to put an outpatient center in the vacated space,” York said. “So, yes, it is a larger effort to expand services on campus.”

The applicant for the project is JRJ Architects, a Beaverton firm that specializes in designing hospitals, clinics and other health care facilities.

The project takes many of its aesthetic cues from the neighboring Providence Newberg Medical Center, JRJ Architects principal Tom Wesel said. That building opened in 2006 with a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design gold rating.

However, the new clinic will have distinctive features.

“Being on the campus with the first LEED gold-certified hospital, we’re making sure that we respect the architecture of the existing campus and also have some elements with in this building that make it its own,” Wesel said. “The building interior is based on some new clinic models that Providence is working, and it’s mostly trying to improve patient comfort and service.”

One key design element focuses on maximizing separation between clinic medical staff and patients.

“We’re focusing on getting a patient the opportunity to go to the exam room sooner and have more services delivered in the exam room and less time waiting,” Wesel said.

One complication for the clinic project is the long-planned Newberg-Dundee bypass. There is an overlay zone across a swath of land slated for that Oregon Department of Transportation project. That zone runs right up against the southern edge of the Providence campus, which influenced how the new clinic will be positioned.

“Our site was constrained by the potential bypass,” Wesel said. “Providence owns more land, but we were respecting the proposed location of the bypass corridor. We’ve had a number of conversations with ODOT and Newberg as it relates to the bypass corridor, and the potential for that is there. And based on the overlay we did have to adjust our footprint.”

A separate traffic analysis of the project site by Kittelson & Associates, Newberg associate planner Keith Leonard said, showed that existing roads will likely be able to smoothly handle traffic generated by the new clinic.

Ground is expected to be broken this summer, York said, and the clinic is scheduled to open at the end of 2019. The hospital renovation would then take place during 2020.

“It’s kind of sequenced,” he said. “The new building needs to go first, and once it’s open we’ll do the renovation work. Our plan is to break ground and start prep of the site this summer so we can get our building pad in before the rains come.”

Significant work remains available for subcontractors to bid on, York said.

“There definitely still is opportunity,” he said. “We’ve done some best value selection with the mechanical and electric teams, but other than that there is a traditional procurement for the rest of the building.”

Currently, the project is in a 120-day design review period. Review is still in the early stages, Leonard said.

“I’m just starting to get comments from the various agencies,” he said last week.

The project team includes general contractor Fortis Construction, mechanical engineer PM Design and Catena Consulting Engineers.

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The first of two $50 million to $60 million contracts for the Newberg-Dundee Bypass project will open to bidding on June 5, an Oregon Department of Transportation official said this week.

The $254 million phased project is being broken up into separate, low-bid contracts to provide opportunities for smaller, local contractors, ODOT spokesman Lou Torres said. The strategy has worked well so far, he added, but presents management challenges – particularly in regard to staging.

“Our approach is to give local contractors an opportunity to bid on major projects,” he said. “You have to manage multiple contractors on a project, but so far, so good.”

Work for the first contract is expected to begin within 30 days on the western end of the bypass near Dundee and involve construction of six bridges connecting the bypass to Oregon Route 99W, Torres said. The second contract, which will open to bidding in August, is for work on the western end of the bypass near Newberg.

LaDuke Construction of Talent has been working on the project’s $8 million first phase, which includes excavation work, bridge construction and prep for the next two contracts, Torres said.

The 11-mile, four-lane highway, which will have 11 bridges, is slated for completion in 2017.

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Apartment complexes are rising around Portland, but several years have passed since one has been built in Newberg. That will change soon, when a seven-building complex designed by is constructed at Hayes Street and Oak Hollow Drive.

The Oak Grove Apartments will be market-rate housing tailored toward low-income residents, said Brian Mares, an architect with Scott | Edwards Architecture.

“The majority of apartment complexes that our office designs are intended to serve and house lower-income residents,” he said. “That type of project is always a rewarding endeavor for our firm.”

The 82-unit complex will hold substantial green space with connection to an adjacent park, creek corridor and a Fred Meyer store at the site’s north end. Other site amenities will include a community garden and a play area for children and families. Each unit will include access to HVAC, a washer and dryer, secure storage and parking.

The design is similar to others created by Scott | Edwards Architecture, Mares said. The firm incorporated some unique strategies, such as shaping the roof lines into sharp angles to bring a greater sense of dimension to the facades and introducing natural light via oversized windows.

“A project like this is equally as interesting, but for somewhat different reasons,” Mares said. “This particular project allowed us greater flexibility to be more creative in our design choices.”

Project construction is under way and being handled by . is the structural engineer.

“On the Boards” is a weekly feature that spotlights local firms’ best design work. Submissions from architectural and engineering firms are encouraged. Please call 503-802-7240 or email ontheboards@djcOregon.com.

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Portland Community College’s Newberg campus became significantly greener this fall when the Newberg Center opened. It’s on track to receive a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design platinum rating as well as a net zero rating from the Energy Trust of Oregon.

designed the building, and / recently completed the 13,000-square-foot academic and administrative center.

The building incorporates several advanced construction techniques, some – such as structural insulated panels that form the walls and roof – that were new for project manager Mark Simpson. Foam insulation is sandwiched between oriented strand board to create an extremely air tight shell, Simpson explained.

“It required a lot of up-front planning,” he said. “Everything was thought out in advance (and) then put on paper so it would be built right the first time.”

The Newberg Center also includes a sophisticated HVAC control system that heats the building in the winter by pumping warm water through pipes embedded in the concrete floor. In warmer months, exterior louvers and turbine fans work together as part of a “night flush” system, expelling hot air and bringing in cooler night air.

The building also has a solar photovoltaic array on its roof and electric-vehicle charging stations.

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It’s May, and along with spring showers comes National Historic Preservation Month.

While Portlanders don’t need another reason to celebrate their abundance of historic homes and commercial buildings, May offers the perfect setting to do so. Not only do the blooming flowers on the porches that dot the streets of East Portland bring out the beauty of the historic homes themselves, but there will be events to bring attention to them.

First off I’d recommend making a trip over to the – 701 S.W. Grand Ave. – for an exhibit of local artist . A majority of her artwork focuses on the historic buildings of her neighborhood, the Buckman neighborhood of Southeast Portland. The exhibit will run from May 6 to May 31.

With the hope of some nice weather, there are also a few day trips you could make to historic towns in Oregon and take in some of the preservation work, as well as shopping at the many stores that offer products to help your own preservation work.

Astoria would be my first trip. It’s beautiful this time of year and the Victorian homes are unmatched in the state. I would also recommend making a trip to some of the more rural areas around Astoria (Lewis & Clark) and check out some of the great historic farmhouses. While you are there, grab a beer from , some fish and chips from the and go pick up some historic hardware from in the old Astor Hotel Building.

Next, make a trip down to Newberg. After taking in the historic farmhouses, make your way over to any of the is known for. Head over to Dayton for dinner at , which is in a historic home. If you get a nice day, nothing beats the valley.

I would also recommend taking an afternoon to explore East Portland by bike. I can’t name just one neighborhood to check out, but Portland is small enough that you can make it through most of inner east Portland on a sunny afternoon. If I had to pick one neighborhood I would pick Irvington in Northeast (). Bring some food and enjoy a picnic. Or stop by a place like on Hawthorne Boulevard, which is in a historic Victorian home, or , also in a historic home, on North Interstate Avenue.

If you’re not into my recommendations, the state Historic Preservation Office has put together a little roundup of events around the state that could be interesting to historic preservation buffs:

The City of Ashland, Oregon will hold several events for Preservation Month during the week of May 9-15 that will include a preservation awards ceremony, walking tours and open houses.

The event brochure and historic open houses guide will be posted on the City’s website, by May 3, 2010. Or you may pick one up at City Hall or the Ashland Community Development Department at 51 Winburn Way. Please call us for any further information at (541) 488-5305.

“Old is the New Green” presented by Benton County, City of Corvallis Historic Resources Commissions & PreservationWORKS. There are quite a number of special tours and other events taking place the entire month of May so be sure to check out the website below. The Annual Preservation Awards is scheduled for May 25, and there will also be a Memorial Day ceremony   (10 a.m.) at the National Register-listed Crystal Lake Cemetery in Corvallis. Call Chris Bentley (541) 766-6819 or Bob Richardson (541) 766-6908 for more information, or visit www.co.benton.or.us, or City of Corvallis: choose Planning> Historic Preservation.

“Healthy Historic Districts in a Changing World: Compatibility & Viability,” presented by the Historic Preservation League of Oregon is inviting planners, architects, property owners, developers, and preservationists from around the state to identify solutions to four key issues affecting the future of Oregon’s historic districts:  Vision & Planning; Design; Incentives; and Regulation. Friday, May 14, 2010, 9:00AM – 3:00PM, Albany City Hall – Council Chambers, 333 Broadalbin St. SW, Albany, Oregon  97321; Fee:  $20 – includes box lunch & walking tour. Space is limited!  Call Peggy Moretti at the HPLO before May 5^th at 503 243-1923 or email peggym@HistoricPreservationLeague.org www.HistoricPreservationLeague.org

The Springfield Historic Commission is kicking off a historic properties rehabilitation grant program and hosting a Wood Window Efficiency Workshop, Friday, May 21. For more information, contact Molly Markarian, Planner II 541-726-4611, .

Shelton-McMurphey-Johnson House & East Skinner Butte Historic District Open House Tours, Eugene, Oregon. A free walking tour is planned that includes several historic homes that will be open for viewing and descriptions of significant homes. Sunday, Mother’s Day, May 9, 2010 from Noon to 4:00 p.m., Pearl and East 4^th Avenue.  Contact Sherrill Necessary for the historic district, sherrill.n@comcast.net or Shelton-McMurphey-Johnson House at 541-484-0808, director@smjhouse.org .

Wayne Morse Family Farm Open House, Eugene, Oregon. Join the Wayne Morse Historical Park Corporation during its annual open house at the Wayne Morse Family Farm (formerly Morse Ranch). Activities will include tours, information and exhibits, guided nature walks, carriage rides, refreshments and music. The event is free and open to the public, donations are welcome. Also included will be tours of the nearby Young-Pallet House, celebrating its 100th anniversary, Saturday, May 15th, 2010, 1-4pm, 595 Crest Drive, Eugene, OR 97405. For more information call (541) 682-5380 or visit .

Mulkey Cemetery Dedication and Work Days, Eugene, Oregon. The Mulkey Cemetery will be hosting cemetery workdays throughout the month of May. Come learn about how to maintain a pioneer cemetery and have some fun doing it. Attend a dedication cemetery at the new Cremated Remains Garden, on Monday, May 31, 2010 at 1:00 p.m.  Work Days will be May 1 & 2, 8, 15 & 16, 21 & 22 and throughout Memorial Day weekend.  How to Get There:  From downtown Eugene, take West 18th Ave. heading west.  Turn southwest (left) onto Hawkins Ave.  Turn west (right) on South Lambert St.  Turn north (right) on the portion of South Lambert that runs north-south.  The cemetery gate is at the end of the street. Contact Sara Palmer, administrator@mulkeycemetery.org or at 541.485-1662.

Preservation Month Fair at the State Capitol State Park, hosted by Heritage Programs, a division of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. The event will be held on May 20 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. on the grounds of the State Capitol on the north side of Court Street, opposite the Capitol building. Community organizations from around the area and several state agencies will provide information about their efforts to help preserve Oregon’s historic places. For more information, contact Ian Johnson, Historian, State Historic Preservation Office, 503-986-0678 or Ian.Johnson@state.or.us.

Sustainable Living Fair: Food, Wine and Home, Holy Names Heritage Center, May 22,

11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Come explore environmentally-friendly lifestyle sponsored by the Holy Names Heritage Center in Lake Oswego. Speakers will discuss local historic preservation efforts, sustainable remodeling options, food and wine choices, and much more.  Vendors will showcase a wide range of preservation products and services. The event is free and open to the public. The Heritage Center is located at 17425 Holy Names Drive in Lake Oswego. For more information, visit or call 503.607.0595.

Briggs Farmhouse Project, May 22, at Historic Dorris Ranch, South Second and Dorris streets in Springfield. This free public event will feature University of Oregon students and faculty from the Architecture and Historic Preservation programs who, in collaboration with Willamalane Park and Recreation District, are studying the farmhouse, its history and contributions to the Dorris Ranch story. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., students and faculty will present images, drawings, and findings from their study of the farmhouse. Also, walking tours of Dorris Ranch, visits to a pioneer log cabin replica, and cooking cornbread on an open fire are among the activities.

The post Things to do in May, Oregon’s Historic Preservation Month appeared first on Daily Journal of Commerce.

It’s May, and along with spring showers comes National Historic Preservation Month.

While Portlanders don’t need another reason to celebrate their abundance of historic homes and commercial buildings, May offers the perfect setting to do so. Not only do the blooming flowers on the porches that dot the streets of East Portland bring out the beauty of the historic homes themselves, but there will be events to bring attention to them.

First off I’d recommend making a trip over to the – 701 S.W. Grand Ave. – for an exhibit of local artist . A majority of her artwork focuses on the historic buildings of her neighborhood, the Buckman neighborhood of Southeast Portland. The exhibit will run from May 6 to May 31.

With the hope of some nice weather, there are also a few day trips you could make to historic towns in Oregon and take in some of the preservation work, as well as shopping at the many stores that offer products to help your own preservation work.

Astoria would be my first trip. It’s beautiful this time of year and the Victorian homes are unmatched in the state. I would also recommend making a trip to some of the more rural areas around Astoria (Lewis & Clark) and check out some of the great historic farmhouses. While you are there, grab a beer from , some fish and chips from the and go pick up some historic hardware from in the old Astor Hotel Building.

Next, make a trip down to Newberg. After taking in the historic farmhouses, make your way over to any of the is known for. Head over to Dayton for dinner at , which is in a historic home. If you get a nice day, nothing beats the valley.

I would also recommend taking an afternoon to explore East Portland by bike. I can’t name just one neighborhood to check out, but Portland is small enough that you can make it through most of inner east Portland on a sunny afternoon. If I had to pick one neighborhood I would pick Irvington in Northeast (). Bring some food and enjoy a picnic. Or stop by a place like on Hawthorne Boulevard, which is in a historic Victorian home, or , also in a historic home, on North Interstate Avenue.

If you’re not into my recommendations, the state Historic Preservation Office has put together a little roundup of events around the state that could be interesting to historic preservation buffs:

The City of Ashland, Oregon will hold several events for Preservation Month during the week of May 9-15 that will include a preservation awards ceremony, walking tours and open houses.

The event brochure and historic open houses guide will be posted on the City’s website, by May 3, 2010. Or you may pick one up at City Hall or the Ashland Community Development Department at 51 Winburn Way. Please call us for any further information at (541) 488-5305.

“Old is the New Green” presented by Benton County, City of Corvallis Historic Resources Commissions & PreservationWORKS. There are quite a number of special tours and other events taking place the entire month of May so be sure to check out the website below. The Annual Preservation Awards is scheduled for May 25, and there will also be a Memorial Day ceremony   (10 a.m.) at the National Register-listed Crystal Lake Cemetery in Corvallis. Call Chris Bentley (541) 766-6819 or Bob Richardson (541) 766-6908 for more information, or visit www.co.benton.or.us, or City of Corvallis: choose Planning> Historic Preservation.

“Healthy Historic Districts in a Changing World: Compatibility & Viability,” presented by the Historic Preservation League of Oregon is inviting planners, architects, property owners, developers, and preservationists from around the state to identify solutions to four key issues affecting the future of Oregon’s historic districts:  Vision & Planning; Design; Incentives; and Regulation. Friday, May 14, 2010, 9:00AM – 3:00PM, Albany City Hall – Council Chambers, 333 Broadalbin St. SW, Albany, Oregon  97321; Fee:  $20 – includes box lunch & walking tour. Space is limited!  Call Peggy Moretti at the HPLO before May 5^th at 503 243-1923 or email peggym@HistoricPreservationLeague.org www.HistoricPreservationLeague.org

The Springfield Historic Commission is kicking off a historic properties rehabilitation grant program and hosting a Wood Window Efficiency Workshop, Friday, May 21. For more information, contact Molly Markarian, Planner II 541-726-4611, .

Shelton-McMurphey-Johnson House & East Skinner Butte Historic District Open House Tours, Eugene, Oregon. A free walking tour is planned that includes several historic homes that will be open for viewing and descriptions of significant homes. Sunday, Mother’s Day, May 9, 2010 from Noon to 4:00 p.m., Pearl and East 4^th Avenue.  Contact Sherrill Necessary for the historic district, sherrill.n@comcast.net or Shelton-McMurphey-Johnson House at 541-484-0808, director@smjhouse.org .

Wayne Morse Family Farm Open House, Eugene, Oregon. Join the Wayne Morse Historical Park Corporation during its annual open house at the Wayne Morse Family Farm (formerly Morse Ranch). Activities will include tours, information and exhibits, guided nature walks, carriage rides, refreshments and music. The event is free and open to the public, donations are welcome. Also included will be tours of the nearby Young-Pallet House, celebrating its 100th anniversary, Saturday, May 15th, 2010, 1-4pm, 595 Crest Drive, Eugene, OR 97405. For more information call (541) 682-5380 or visit .

Mulkey Cemetery Dedication and Work Days, Eugene, Oregon. The Mulkey Cemetery will be hosting cemetery workdays throughout the month of May. Come learn about how to maintain a pioneer cemetery and have some fun doing it. Attend a dedication cemetery at the new Cremated Remains Garden, on Monday, May 31, 2010 at 1:00 p.m.  Work Days will be May 1 & 2, 8, 15 & 16, 21 & 22 and throughout Memorial Day weekend.  How to Get There:  From downtown Eugene, take West 18th Ave. heading west.  Turn southwest (left) onto Hawkins Ave.  Turn west (right) on South Lambert St.  Turn north (right) on the portion of South Lambert that runs north-south.  The cemetery gate is at the end of the street. Contact Sara Palmer, administrator@mulkeycemetery.org or at 541.485-1662.

Preservation Month Fair at the State Capitol State Park, hosted by Heritage Programs, a division of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. The event will be held on May 20 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. on the grounds of the State Capitol on the north side of Court Street, opposite the Capitol building. Community organizations from around the area and several state agencies will provide information about their efforts to help preserve Oregon’s historic places. For more information, contact Ian Johnson, Historian, State Historic Preservation Office, 503-986-0678 or Ian.Johnson@state.or.us.

Sustainable Living Fair: Food, Wine and Home, Holy Names Heritage Center, May 22,

11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Come explore environmentally-friendly lifestyle sponsored by the Holy Names Heritage Center in Lake Oswego. Speakers will discuss local historic preservation efforts, sustainable remodeling options, food and wine choices, and much more.  Vendors will showcase a wide range of preservation products and services. The event is free and open to the public. The Heritage Center is located at 17425 Holy Names Drive in Lake Oswego. For more information, visit or call 503.607.0595.

Briggs Farmhouse Project, May 22, at Historic Dorris Ranch, South Second and Dorris streets in Springfield. This free public event will feature University of Oregon students and faculty from the Architecture and Historic Preservation programs who, in collaboration with Willamalane Park and Recreation District, are studying the farmhouse, its history and contributions to the Dorris Ranch story. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., students and faculty will present images, drawings, and findings from their study of the farmhouse. Also, walking tours of Dorris Ranch, visits to a pioneer log cabin replica, and cooking cornbread on an open fire are among the activities.

The post Things to do in May, Oregon’s Historic Preservation Month appeared first on Daily Journal of Commerce.

No one will need to adjust the thermostat at Portland Community College‘s Newberg Center on chilly days. The building itself will be able to take care of that.

The center is poised to open this fall as PCC’s first net-zero-ready building. The joint venture of R&H Construction/Colas Construction is tackling the $4.5 million project designed to generate 100 percent fewer carbon dioxide emissions than the average U.S. building of the same type and size. But that is dependent on whether money will be available to cover the cost of additional solar panels, according to Gary Sutton, PCC project manager.

The Newberg project, a 13,500-square-foot educational facility, is being paid for with money from a $374 million bond passed in 2008 for construction projects at seven PCC locations. To achieve the net-zero goal, Hennebery Eddy Architects‘ design calls for a highly insulated building envelope, passive heating/cooling systems and rooftop solar panels.

Presently, however, only 25 kilowatts of solar are budgeted for the building. Installation of the remaining 75 kilowatts may hinge on cash incentives available from the Energy Trust of Oregon, Sutton said. The estimated cost for the additional panels is approximately $400,000.

“The funding for the remaining solar panels would come out of our bond, which is limited,” Sutton said. “Right now, we are weighing the estimated cost against what the Energy Trust can offer us in terms of incentives. We are waiting on the Energy Trust to make an offer, but I am hopeful we can make a decision in the next few months, before (the building) is completed.”

The building’s key efficiency components are its passive heating and cooling systems, according to Doug Reimer, an associate with Hennebery Eddy. Structural insulated panels – precast walls made from rigid, foam-plastic insulation sandwiched between two layers of oriented strand board – make it difficult for air, and energy to escape through the building’s envelope.

Meanwhile, automated louvers open to let in air to cool the building, or close to keep heat from escaping, depending on classroom temperatures. Skylights distribute and diffuse natural light into classrooms and offices during the day; energy-efficient lights provide light for evening classes. A radiant heating slab makes up the building’s floor and uses warm water piped beneath classroom floors to keep students toasty in wintertime. Cool water could potentially be used in the summer, Reimer said.

“It’s not your typical building,” he said. “The mechanical systems are different and there are more skylights and louvers to control light and natural ventilation. People who maintain the building will need to learn some new things.”

For the contractors, the project requires efficient building techniques. The premade structural insulated panels must be installed just right, according to Mark Simpson, project manager with R&H, because modifying them later would be a daunting task. It’s a similar situation for the concrete slab floor.

“We’ve actually been waiting on a clear day so we can pour the whole slab,” Simpson said. “With a project like this, your ability to make changes is a lot more challenging. Pouring when it’s too cold outside increases the risk of breaking the slab.”

Another R&H Construction/Colas Construction joint venture, the June Key Delta House living building in Portland, has provided workers with net-zero experience, according to Andrew Colas, president of Colas Construction. Living buildings use systems similar to those being installed in the Newberg Center project.

“The June Key Delta project has really prepared my guys for working on this project,” Colas said. “More and more, we’re seeing this type of project being built. In 20 years, it will be a standard for building.”

The project is expected to wrap up before classes begin this fall, Sutton said. The college’s faculty and staff will receive training related to the unique systems, but the building will essentially operate independently.

“On winter mornings, the radiant heat kicks in to get the building up to temperature,” Sutton said. “At night in the summer, it opens up vents to pump in cool air (and) then closes in the morning to trap it. It’s exciting to be working in a living building that’s reacting and working in symbiosis with its environment.”

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A recently completed cultural center in Newberg needs $6 million in funding to expand.

Scott Edwards Architecture designed the Chehalem Cultural Center, a historic elementary school that has been converted into an arts-focused community center. Architect Sid Scott says funding is needed to build out the rest of the project, which includes converting a gym into a ballroom, renovating an existing performance space and converting a cafeteria kitchen into space for culinary classes.

“Old schools are typically quite nice architecturally,” Scott said. “They have so much history and connection to the community. We have great plans to turn the gym into a regional performance venue.”

A public plaza is also planned near the Chehalem Cultural Center from a design by Scott Edwards Architecture. The first phase of the project, which was completed in February, cost $2.5 million. The Cultural Center is currently soliciting donations to start construction on the next project phase. For more information, visit .

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When money is tight, citizens and city governments have to work together to find unique, inexpensive ways to get things done. This was the case for the city of Newberg as Daneal Construction, a Wilsonville-based civil contractor, broke ground on the city’s “demonstration block” last week.

The “demonstration block,” as the city calls it, will consist of curb extensions, new pedestrian-scale street trees, a bike rack, benches and low-level street vegetation along the south side of First Street from School Street to College Street. The improvements are meant to showcase the future look of the entire downtown corridor in two blocks.

“This was the idea of the (Newberg) Downtown Revitalization Committee,” said Barton Brierley, planning and building director with the city of Newberg. “They wanted to get some of the projects started that have come out of their visioning process, so they decided to do this one small project to show people what downtown could look like in the future and get them excited about it.”

The idea to make downtown Newberg more pedestrian friendly started almost five years ago. At that time, the city of Newberg was entrenched in the process of creating a civic corridor – a six block stretch between Memorial Park and the Chehalem Cultural Center that houses many of the city services, including City Hall, the library and the post office. City planners liked the ideas coming out of the civic corridor process so much they decided to implement some of them in the downtown business district.

The demonstration block costs $40,000, a quarter of which is funded by the local Rotary Club. The features included in the demonstration block will be implemented within the rest of the downtown corridor as part of the city’s transportation infrastructure replacement schedule.

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