After leasing increasing amounts of training space over nearly 15 years, the Portland Timbers are taking a big step.

Last month, the professional soccer club purchased the 13-acre property where its training facility sits, at 6220 S.W. 112th Ave. in Beaverton. Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District (THPRD), which had been sharing with the Timbers a building on the site, sold it for $25 million.

“This is an exciting moment for THPRD and a win-win for the community,” THPRD Board President Alfredo Moreno stated in a press release. “We are proud to support the Timbers’ efforts to expand their Beaverton training facilities and deepen community connections as they work to bring home another MLS Cup trophy.”

Ashley Highsmith, the Timbers’ chief operating officer, said the site purchase was something that club owner Merritt Paulson had been thinking about for a while.

“Our team is continuing to grow and get bigger,” Highsmith said. “We want to make sure we have a training facility that is available for our club to continue to grow and perform at a high level.”

The Timbers began leasing space in THPRD’s building on the property in 2011, with 6,000 square feet. They increased that amount to 8,600 square feet in 2015 and then 24,000 square feet in 2017. The latter expansion provided a new weight room, a film theater, a full-service kitchen, a media room, improved treatment spaces, and more.

Following the purchase, the club can use the entire 90,000-square-foot building, which will be renamed the Portland Timbers Performance Center.

GBD Architects has been working with the Timbers on a master plan primarily for the building’s interior; an indoor practice area and expanded player facilities are being considered. Both indoor and outdoor training spaces are being designed by GBD.

Currently, full development plans for the 13-acre footprint are being determined. Officials have already decided to increase the number of full-size training fields from two to three.

“The area that was … THPRD (space) will turn into our turf field,” Highsmith said. “Where the turf field is currently, that will be our second grass field.”

Other plans call for adding a viewing deck along one side of the building, expanding office space, and replacing the roof.

The club is in the process of finalizing details for Bernhardt Golf to serve as the general contractor for the exterior renovation; also, subcontractors are being hired. A contractor for the interior work will be selected later in the project.

“Outside is where we’re focusing first in developing this field and really making it a premier place for our team to train on,” Highsmith said.

A phased approach will be used for the field upgrades so the Timbers can maintain their training schedule. The start date for construction is not set yet.

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