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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The Portland Timbers’ $44 million expansion of Providence Park remains on schedule as the club’s April 14 season opening match approaches. In this video, Turner Construction senior project manager Brian Sabom and Timbers President of Business Mike Golub talk about the project, which will be carried out between matches during the 2018 season and into the offseason.  Check it out:

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The Portland Timbers plan to begin work this fall on a $50 million expansion of seating at Providence Park.

The project will add approximately 4,000 seats to the existing 21,144-capacity soccer stadium in Goose Hollow. The expansion will be privately financed by the Timbers, with no public money at risk, said Mike Golub, the Major League Soccer club’s president of business.

Renderings of the expansion, released by the team Wednesday, show a four-story vertical column rising behind the existing east grandstands. A rooftop curls over the top.

The first level will be club seating, the second and third will be general reserved seating and the fourth level will be reserved for groups.

The project team’s plans are scheduled go before the Portland Design Commission on May 11.

The design is by Allied Works Architecture. Golub first brought his ideas for a stadium expansion to a longtime friend, Allied Works principal Brad Cloepfil. Turner Construction will serve as the general contractor.

“Turner has been the (general contractor) on the last several projects, and they have a great understanding of the stadium,” Golub said.

The project adds to a rush of redevelopment in Goose Hollow. A portion of the Press Blocks project, east of Providence Park, would add 447 parking spaces underneath a 250-foot-tall tower. The Timbers have been in discussions with the developer, Security Properties, to use the parking on game nights, Golub said.

“We’re talking about doing some things cooperatively with them,” he said. “We haven’t finalized the deal, but we’re in close contact with them and think there’s some symbiotic ways we could work together to provide us parking for games and provide them parking for residents and retail (customers).”

Also, Lincoln High School is due to receive a full rebuild if voters approve a $790 million bond measure in May.

The proposed Providence Park rooftop would cover the existing seats in sections 95, 96 and 99. Otherwise, existing seats will not be affected by the project.

The structure will also protrude over 18th Avenue, creating an arcade look. Allied Works looked to arcades in Bologna, Italy, as well as historic photos of East Burnside Street, for inspiration.

The Timbers are riding a wave of goodwill after winning the 2015 MLS Cup. The team has sold out 112 consecutive home matches. The Portland Thorns, of the National Women’s Soccer League, also draw strongly, averaging more than 17,000 fans per game.

Pre-construction could begin this fall, after the soccer season concludes. Work would resume in fall 2018.

The Timbers intend to stay in Providence Park, Golub said.

“We want to be here for the long term, be in this stadium for the long term,” he said.

The Timbers will continue to work with the city of Portland and neighbors, including Lincoln High School and the Multnomah Athletic Club, on traffic issues. The team is conducting a traffic study.

“It’s fantastic being in this downtown location, but with it comes challenges,” Golub said.

Roughly 60 percent of Timbers fans take MAX light rail to and from matches, he said. The Timbers also have deals with SmartPark and TriMet, and bicycle parking available.

“We have a lot of weapons in our arsenal to try to facilitate transportation to and from (Providence Park),” Golub said.

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