Construction of a new, 59,900-square-foot indoor aquatic center at Northgate Park in Portland is on track to begin next year. The design calls for a 35-meter, approximately 8,600-square-foot competition pool and an approximately 5,500-square-foot recreation pool.

The North Portland Aquatic Center will be built in the park’s northwest area, and parking will be built in the northeast area. The park is at 9415 N. Geneva Ave.

Scott Edwards Architecture designed the approximately $91.5 million project for Portland Parks & Recreation. The project team also includes civil engineer Vega Civil Engineering, structural engineer WDY Inc., landscape architect Mayer/Reed, and construction manager/general contractor Howard S. Wright. Interface Engineering is the HVAC and fire protection engineer; it also provided energy modeling. Reyes Engineering is the electrical engineer.

Approximately 70,000 people will be served by the aquatic center, according to Portland Parks & Recreation projections. Of that population, 24 percent are Black, Indigenous, or people of color, and 14 percent live below the federal poverty line, the project’s website states. The facility’s programming will include swimming lessons, water fitness classes, lap swimming, competitive swimming, training classes, and open play.

The competition pool will have 13 lap lanes, and the recreation pool will have a slide, a lazy river, and some play equipment, Scott Edwards Architecture principal Jesse Graden said. There will be some spectator seating on the mezzanine level overlooking the competition pool. Also on that level, overlooking the recreation pool there will be rentable rooms for parties and other events.

Other indoor amenities will include multi-gender and non-gender locker rooms, and family changing rooms.

There will be covered bike parking at the front entrance and bus stops at the facility.

The main entry will connect to North Fessenden Street, north of Northgate Park, Graden said. That entry will feature a paved plaza space providing pathways for people walking, biking or traveling by bus on Fessenden Street or by car or LIFT bus via the parking lot, Portland Parks & Recreation spokesperson Mark Ross stated in an email. The plaza will include native plantings, new trees, seating areas and views of public art installations outside of the center.

A secondary entrance on North Geneva Avenue will be dedicated to staff and athletes.

“School buses that might be arriving for a swim meet would go to that separate entrance,” Graden said.

A major goal for the project team was to reach underserved communities that have historically been excluded from public pools or felt unwelcome in public spaces. Via community engagement, the team sought to create a welcoming facility for everyone, Graden said.

In response to community members’ comments, the design team is working with the Regional Arts and Culture Council to engage local artists in different design opportunities for the building. The team is still developing a strategy for locating artwork.

The building’s arrival will reduce the park’s green space, Graden said, but there will be new landscaping, including trees and plantings. Some existing trees will be preserved. Also, other park amenities in the area — a soccer field, a playground, a tennis court, walking paths and restrooms — will remain.

Building materials for the facility’s interior will include exposed wood elements as well as a mass-timber roof, Graden said.

The exterior will be composed of metal siding as well as masonry. There will also be some rooftop solar panels.

“There will be a lot of windows — some high windows, clerestory windows in the natatorium in particular for natural lighting,” Graden said.

The estimated start date for construction is fall 2027. Crews are expected to finish work sometime in 2029.

On the Boards is a 91��Ƶ feature offering a look at projects in Oregon and Southwest Washington being tackled by local architecture firms. To have your firm’s projects considered, contact 91��Ƶ reporter Hilary Dorsey at hdorsey@djcOregon.com.

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A nonprofit’s latest affordable housing project in an area of Portland affected by gentrification is advancing.

The three-building Avenue Plaza apartment complex, at 5025 N.E. Eighth Ave., is being deconstructed to accommodate construction of the new five-story, 78-unit Nicole Sandoval Building. Its address will be 5015 N.E. Eighth Ave., near the intersection with Northeast Alberta Street.

There will be 35 two-bedroom units, 39 one-bedroom units and four studios in the 79,442-square-foot building. Twelve of the units will have accessibility features.

Of the 78 apartments, 22 (via U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development assistance) will be for individuals earning up to 50 percent of area median income, according to owner/developer Sabin CDC, and the other 56 will be for people earning up to 60 percent of AMI.

The project team also includes development consultant Edlen & Co., architect Scott Edwards Architecture, civil engineer Janet Turner Engineering of Lake Oswego, structural engineer VALAR Consulting Engineering of Clackamas, landscape architect DELA STUDIO, and construction manager/general contractor LMC Construction.

The building is named for Nicole Sandoval, a former resident in one of Sabin CDC’s properties and former chair of its board of directors. She also is an artist and children’s entertainer known as Nikki Brown Clown.

“She was instrumental in a key transition period for Sabin when I came on as executive director,” Sabin CDC’s Mary Schoen-Clark said. “Her support was really important during those days.”

The long-term, primarily Black residents of Avenue Plaza provided the motivation for Sabin CDC to tackle the project, Schoen-Clark said. Due to the rising cost of living in the Alberta Arts District, residents started to move out.

Sabin CDC’s long-term strategy is to ensure Northeast Portland residents can continue living in the community. Previously, the nonprofit delivered the Harvey Rice Heritage affordable housing development featuring the Isaka Shamsud-Din complex (on Northeast Killingsworth Street) and Charlotte Lewis complex (on Northeast 72nd Avenue). Two other projects are in the works.

One of the tasks for the design team was to ensure the Nicole Sandoval Building will fit within the Alberta Arts District, Scott Edwards Architecture project architect Sander Kohler said. The building will have a brick façade on the front and fiber cement siding with a board and batten pattern on the back.

Sabin CDC also charged the design team with the task of designing an energy efficient building able to spare residents from the burden of utility costs, Scott Edwards Architecture principal Hayley Purdy said. In fact, tenants won’t pay for any utilities.

In work with the Energy Trust of Oregon through its Path to Net Zero program, the design team identified many sustainable items for the building. These will include a ground source heat pump (the HVAC system), a 114-kilowatt solar array on the roof, a hot water heat pump system with storage tanks, a battery backup system, an efficient building envelope with increased insulation, triple-pane windows, all Energy Star appliances, full on-site stormwater retention including native plants, LED lighting, and more.

A monitoring system will be used to collect data from solar and geothermal systems in a format easily accessible by staffers, according to JT McElrath, cultural events and communications coordinator for Sabin CDC. That will allow system adjustments to ensure efficient energy use.

In addition, peak shaving will go one step further by accounting for when demand for electricity is high and companies’ rates are highest.

“By lowering our demand on the grid at these peak usage times, we lower our utility bill and provide less strain on the electrical grid,” explained Nathalie Hansen, assistant to Schoen-Clark.

The building won’t be net zero due to site constraints, according to Purdy. However, it is expected to receive certification in the Path to Net Zero high-performance tier. The project team is also targeting NGBS (National Green Building Standard) Green certification at the emerald level.

For seismic resiliency, the building will have a post-tensioned slab between the first and second floors. Several areas on the first floor will connect to the battery backup system and be shelter-ready.

Also, there will be 78 bicycle parking stalls, and the site is one-quarter mile from mass transit.

Construction is expected to cost $36 million. Sabin CDC declined to disclose the full project cost.

Funding is from Heritage Bank, Beneficial State Bank, Network for Oregon Affordable Housing, Enterprise Community Partners, Fairview Trust, Oregon Housing and Community Services, Portland Clean Energy Fund, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Metro.

Deconstruction of the three Avenue Plaza buildings began early last month. Sabin CDC is working with the Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability on a commercial deconstruction pilot project, Hansen said. Portland YouthBuilders, OregonServes and Meticulous Deconstruction are participating in the effort.

The team has salvaged ovens, fridges and doors from the Avenue Plaza buildings, Hansen said. Windows have been removed and repurposed at a nursery. Studs and ceiling joists have also been salvaged. Some two-by-fours will be used for an accessory dwelling unit Sabin CDC is building in partnership with the city. Some materials are going to the ReBuilding Center in North Portland.

“We’ve also reinvested a lot of material that was on-site into our existing properties,” Schoen-Clark said. “That’s been a nice legacy moment for the existing buildings.”

Construction of the Nicole Sandoval Building is expected to be completed before it receives residents in January 2028.

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A health recovery facility is coming to Portland’s Central Eastside Industrial District. The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners on Thursday approved the Sobering and Crisis Stabilization Center project team to proceed with construction.

Multnomah County purchased the property, located at 1901 S.E. Grand Ave., in April 2025. The existing building will be renovated and gain a new entrance, around the corner, at 440 S.E. Stephens St.

The temporary Coordinated Care Pathway Center, at 980 S.E. Pine St., has been offering services since last year. It has 13 sobering stations, according to Multnomah County’s website. But that facility will close once the new one opens with 47 stations.

The total project cost is $29.8 million. The project team includes architect Scott Edwards Architecture and construction manager/general contractor Fortis Construction.

The facility will receive people transported by law enforcement personnel, first responders, and referral partners. Community Bridges Inc. of Mesa, Arizona, will operate the center. Services will include sobering, withdrawal management, medication-assisted treatment, deflection, and sheltering. There will be three main areas: intake, sobering, and withdrawal management. Care in the sobering area (18 stations) will be provided for up to 24 hours. Care in the withdrawal management area (29 stations) will be provided longer than 24 hours.

Trauma-informed design is being used for the 26,053-square-foot center, Multnomah County Health Department strategic initiatives manager Marc Harris said during Thursday’s meeting.

“This includes low-barrier walls (to allow) caregivers to monitor individuals,” said Greg Hockery, assistant director for planning, design and construction for the county.

The renovation will include interior demolition, beginning with the wood-framed mezzanine level. Crews will then complete a seismic upgrade to meet current building codes, install new flooring, perform an interior build-out, and install new building systems. Also, the building envelope will be upgraded with a new roof and enhanced insulation to meet Oregon energy code requirements.

Site upgrades will include adding an enclosed outdoor patio for program participants and accessible parking, regrading all drivable surfaces, and adding separate entrances for staff, law enforcement and the public.

Last year, the Oregon Legislature, via House bills 5204 and 5701, allocated $35 million to Multnomah County to support construction of a permanent sobering center able to receive behavioral health drop-offs. Some of the money went toward a building renovation for the temporary Coordinated Care Pathway Center and the rest went toward the acquisition and renovation of the permanent facility.

Approximately $14.2 million more is needed to fully fund the Sobering and Crisis Stabilization Center project. That amount will be requested from the county via its general fund over the course of fiscal years 2027 and 2028.

Construction crews are expected to be mobilized within the next few weeks. Work is scheduled to wrap up in September 2027.

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A suburban clinic is on track to receive some upgrades next spring.

The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners last week approved plans to upgrade the Rockwood Community Health Center. Medical, dental and pharmacy services are provided at the facility, which is located at 2020 S.E. 182nd Ave. in Gresham.

Multnomah County purchased the Rockwood facility from Care Access LLC (CareOregon) for $1 million in 2023. The county previously rented the facility.

Scott Edwards Architecture designed the building improvements for the county.

A general contractor will be selected through a bid process. Bids are due by Oct. 21, Multnomah County spokesperson Sarah Dean stated in an email.

The project scope includes renovating the entrance and clinic lobby; replacing the roof, the rooftop heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system units; building a small addition for a new electrical room; upgrading the electrical service; installing an emergency generator; completing other building system improvements; and applying interior finishes. The work will also involve adding electric vehicle charging stations.

The lobby will have a window wall to add more light into the space, Multnomah County project manager Brett Taute said.

The $6.8 million project is fully funded, mostly by the county. However, a $1.97 million federal Health Resources and Services Administration grant is helping pay the cost.

Initially crews will focus on performing site work and constructing the electrical room addition. Then the facility will close temporarily next year from April through September. During that time the team will renovate the entrance and lobby, tackle roofing upgrades, and perform heating/cooling and electrical work. Most of the clinic’s staff and programming will move temporarily to two different buildings – the Multnomah County East building at 600 N.E. Eighth St. and the Mid County Health Center at 12710 S.E. Division St.

Construction during the remainder of the project will take place by closing only portions of the building.

Active construction is expected to take 12 to 14 months, according to the staff report.

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A new, 150-unit affordable housing community is coming to the heart of Hillsboro.

Nueva Esperanza will feature 12 residential buildings and a community building on a six-acre lot near the intersection of Northeast 53rd Avenue and Hidden Creek Drive.

The co-developers of the $37 million project are Hillsboro-based Bienestar and Portland-based Housing Development Center. Scott | Edwards Architecture is the designer, and LMC Construction is the general contractor.

Most of the apartments will have two or three bedrooms, though others will have one or four bedrooms. Sixty of the units are intended for households earning 30 percent of the area median income or less. The remainder will be for households earning 20 to 60 percent of the AMI.

The complex will have 169 parking spots, exceeding the requirement of one spot per unit.

The intent of the design, architect Eugenia Fama-Higgins of Scott | Edwards Architecture said, was to create small neighborhoods within the larger one. Residential buildings will be grouped into three distinct clusters – each with its own character and an outdoor plaza in the middle. Walking paths and vehicular streets will circulate through the site and connect the plazas.

Nueva Esperanza, according to Bienestar’s website, is its first project designed to meet two culturally different communities: Latinx families and Somali immigrant families. To ensure the needs of both would be met, focus groups were engaged at different stages of development. This made the project unique for Fama-Higgins, she said. From those conversations, she added, importance was placed on picnic areas, a piñata pole and a large meadow to accommodate soccer games and outdoor movies during summertime.

Both communities requested a separate vanity in the two-bedroom apartments where there’s only one bathroom. In units with two bathrooms, one has a shower and the other has a tub. For the three-bedroom and four-bedroom apartments, future residents asked for the kitchen to be separated from the living area by a partition wall or a door.

One point of contention between the communities was whether dogs would be allowed. To find middle ground, Fama-Higgins said, the team added a fence around the area for dogs. Also, signage will indicate whether dogs are allowed in certain areas.

All residential buildings will be three stories. The walk-up apartments will be stacked and identical, with entryways on the plaza and street side. The other configuration will be a two-story townhome unit over a flat.

The buildings will have a traditional wood siding, but Fama-Higgins said it would be a vertical board-and-batten pattern to add a bit of playfulness. The bluish color is still being finalized, she added, but so far feedback from the city of Hillsboro, clients and community members has been positive.

Earth Advantage gold certification will be sought for the project. Residential buildings at the site’s south end will be made solar-ready for a maximum 26-kilowatt load. The solar power will serve the community’s side lighting and some common spaces.

Construction crews will use an advanced framing method for the residential buildings. Instead of 16 inches of separation between studs, there will be 24 inches. This will allow use of less material and reduce the labor cost, Fama-Higgins said, but also create more space for insulation and thus improve the building’s energy performance.

The project team already has exceeded its goal of 20 percent participation by minority-owned, woman-owned, or emerging small businesses. So far, it is at 30 percent, according to a Scott | Edwards Architecture representative.

Currently, permits are being sought for the project. Crews expect to break ground this month and finish in fall 2023.

On the Boards is a 91��Ƶ feature offering a look at the projects in Oregon being tackled by local architecture firms. To have your firm’s projects considered, contact the 91��Ƶ at 503-802-7221 or newsroom@djcOregon.com.

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In Southeast Portland, construction crews have topped out a three-story, 62,700-square-foot affordable housing development.

Colas Construction is serving as the general contractor for Centennial Place, at 3800 S.E. 164th Ave. Scott | Edwards Architecture provided the design.

The 71-unit project, developed by Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare, is intended to serve people with mental illness as well as families with at least one child enrolled in the Centennial School District. Plans call for 18 of the apartments to serve households earning 0 to 30 percent of the area median income (AMI). The remaining 53 apartments will be for households earning up to 60 percent of AMI.

“The topping out of a project is always exciting,” Scott | Edwards Architecture associate Hayley Purdy stated in an email. “But there is something about projects like Centennial Place, that serve a vital role in the community and take a proactive approach to sustainable design, that make the moment feel extra special.”

The structure is designed to have a mix of gabled and flat roof. Recently, crews prepped the flat-top portion to be solar-ready. A fall protection system was also installed for building maintenance crews to use when working on the roof.

The different roofing systems have become a special point of attention during construction, Colas Construction superintendent Andrew Milette said. Due to the structure’s U shape and courtyard design, the way it carries the shear loads is unique, he added.

A gabled roof, with peaks and valleys, works much differently than a flat roof. However, use of both kinds was not as much of a challenge but rather a nuance, Milette said, that creates different conditions throughout the building.

Since construction kicked off in June 2021, crews have had to grapple with an ever-changing supply market. That’s been more of a challenge, Milette said.

“It’s something that has been very volatile through construction,” he said.

Items anticipated to have an eight-week delivery time saw that jump to 16 to 20 weeks. In the case of the exterior siding, supplier James Hardie briefly shut down its plant in Summerville, South Carolina, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Centennial Place project team had to play a waiting game, Milette said.

It was all about trying to respond as quickly as possible – and so far, that tactic has paid off, he said.

The siding was purchased and delivered to the site several weeks before it was needed. A critical piece in the acquisition of materials, Milette said, has been finding a middle ground to store materials or having the manufacturer hold them before use.

“Doing that has helped keep cost to a minimum too,” he said, “because we’re seeing so much material (price) escalation.”

The Centennial Place project team is on track to complete work in October 2022. Earth Advantage gold certification is being targeted.

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PROJECT: Oregon City Engineering & Operations Center

LOCATION: 13895 Fir St., Oregon City

SIZE: 26,000-square-foot office and 53,000-square-foot warehouse

COST: $12.8 million

START DATE: September 2020

COMPLETION DATE: November 2021

OWNER: city of Oregon City

OWNER’S REPRESENTATIVE: PlanB Consultancy

ARCHITECT: Scott | Edwards Architecture

ENGINEERS: WDY Inc. (structural), Harper Houf Peterson Righellis (civil, landscaping), Interface Engineering (mechanical)

GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Emerick Construction

OTHER CONSULTANTS: JLD Cost Consulting

SIGNIFICANCE OF PROJECT: Oregon City’s Engineering and Operations Center is now open to the public. The facility houses Public Works engineering, Public Works operations, geographic information systems, facility maintenance and the parks maintenance division.

The 4.7-acre property, formerly occupied by General Distributing Inc., was purchased in April 2019 for $7.1 million. Environmental, structural and mechanical inspections took place, and then crews broke ground in September 2020.

The renovation of the existing building included seismic reinforcement. The facility is considered essential because it houses emergency response personnel.

“The site is dramatically different, considering we kept the structure intact,” Scott | Edwards Architecture project manager Brandon Dole stated in a press release. “We are proud the project took the route of reusing the space with modifications to updates to fit the needs of Public Works now and in the future.”

Modifications to the office building created reception areas, a customer service counter, a training room, a conference room, enclosed offices, open workspaces, storage space, and a break room. More than 8,500 square feet is dedicated to a fleet workshop, a vehicle wash-down area, and indoor storage for materials and equipment. The lot includes fuel storage with pumps, and all existing warehouse facilities are equipped with heat and fire suppression.

“When Emerick first learned of this project, we were excited for the opportunity to be part of a project of this significance in Oregon City because of the impact it was going to have for the community,” Jordan Fell, Emerick Construction‘s director of special projects, stated in the news release. “Issues are inherent to every construction project, but this one was extra challenging and unpredictable. (We) had to navigate through construction while dealing with COVID, wildfires, ice storms, and supply chain issues. Through all of this, we were still able to deliver this project on time – and that’s not a small feat.”

“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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When Scott | Edwards Architecture needed more space for its growing practice, the firm’s principals and partners doubled down in East Portland.

The firm decided to expand in place at 2525 E. Burnside St. After a renovation and expansion project, Scott | Edwards has more than doubled its space, from 8,000 square feet to 17,000 square feet.

The $4.5 million project involved adding two floors to an original single-story building with a basement. The existing structure was thoroughly renovated. Much of the new structure was built with cross-laminated timber from Oregon supplier D.R. Johnson. Board-formed concrete was used for the lateral system.

The interior centers on a staircase that showcases the lumber as users move from floor to floor. The new CLT picks up on the historic bow-truss system that supports the original structure’s roof.

Constructed in 1947, the building was originally a post office. Scott | Edwards purchased the property in 2007 after previously occupying offices in the Pearl District and in Goose Hollow.

“I wanted to be around downtown but not downtown,” said Sid Scott, principal of the firm.

The Burnside location still allows easy access to downtown, but is also convenient for employees who live on the eastside, he said.

Scott charged Eric Wenzel, an associate architect, with taking the lead in designing the project. Joseph Hughes Construction was brought in as general contractor.

One of the goals of the project was to increase space for collaboration, Scott said. The new office has indoor and outdoor meeting spaces. A basement was remade with bike parking, a bar and a social area. The rooftop has outdoor seating and an eco-roof designed by Harper Houf Peterson Righellis.

Architects were also able to incorporate evolving lessons learned during the pandemic. Measures such as bipolar ionization to purify the air were installed.

The project was completed this past summer, and the office reopened to employees on Aug. 16. (During construction, Scott | Edwards leased 7,000 square feet on Southeast Ankeny Street).

The office expansion comes as a new chapter unfolds for Scott | Edwards Architecture. Scott is inching toward retirement age, and Kelly Edwards, formerly the firm’s co-principal, retired in 2013. At that time, six staffers were promoted to partners. The firm now has 92 total employees.

Scott | Edwards works to keep an even balance of public, private and nonprofit sector work to protect against economic downturns, Scott said. Clients include Bandon Dunes Golf Resort – for which the firm is creating a master plan for future facilities at the Old Macdonald course – and Salem Health. The firm also sets a goal of doing a new project type each year; recent choices have included water management and a winery tasting room.

“I want this firm to go on forever,” Scott said.

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Nearly 20 years since previously tackling new construction, developer Sabin Community Development Corporation is embarking on a new affordable housing expedition.

Sabin CDC, based on Alberta Street in Northeast Portland, was formed in 1992 when neighbors started to see gentrification in the area. Its mission has been to provide long-term affordable housing options for low-income and median-income households, with a focus on Black residents.

The Harvey Rice Heritage Center project, named after Sabin CDC’s longtime board chairman, will bring a total of 41 affordable housing units to Northeast Portland. Two separate properties will gain developments; each one will be named after a local artist (Isaka Shamsud-Din and Charlotte Lewis) who has work displayed in the Portland Museum of Art.

Gentrification impacts

Much of Northeast Portland has experienced upheaval in the past decade, Sabin CDC Housing Director Loulie Brown said. Roughly 30 years ago, the broad inner area (Sabin, Woodlawn, Vernon, King, Humboldt, Boise and Eliot neighborhoods) was roughly 60 percent Black with a median income of $36,000, according to . Now it’s around 71 percent white with a median income of $70,000, according to the and .

Meanwhile, approximately 76 percent of residents in Sabin CDC housing identify as Black or multiracial and have incomes that average less than 50 percent of the median. There are even some folks that have no income, Brown said.

That reality led to the origin of the Harvey Rice Heritage Center project.

Sabin CDC was awarded low-income tax credits for the project in August 2020. Scott | Edwards Architecture was then brought in to perform the design work and P&C Construction was hired as the contractor. Partnership groups Community Vision and Iron Tribe Network have also aided the project.

Folks with disabilities, Brown said, face many barriers to housing that aren’t just income-based. With an aging residential population, Sabin CDC wanted to make sure the new buildings could accommodate them.

“That’s a void that Community Vision makes a herculean effort to fill,” Brown said.

Iron Tribe will then help support people who are transitioning from group living to individual housing. Also, trauma-informed design is being used for the Isaka Shamsud-Din and Charlotte Lewis buildings.

The Isaka Shamsud-Din

A four-story, 29-unit building is planned for the corner of Northeast 14th Place and Killingsworth Street. Currently, the lot holds a two-story, nine-unit building that will be demolished. The new structure will consist of one-bedroom and two-bedroom units as well as a 1,250-square-foot community room.

The Isaka Shamsud-Din will be painted terra-cotta and have a varied board and batten exterior. It will be a more playful take on the traditional form of cladding and reminiscent of Shamsud-Din’s work, Scott | Edwards Architecture architect Hayley Purdy said.

Instead of long, poorly lit corridors typically seen in affordable housing, the building will have large windows in both hallways and units, Purdy said.

The size of the community room is not typically seen in affordable housing. But Sabin CDC wanted a space that residents and community members could use for classes. It even will have a kitchen and a partition to divide the room into two spaces if needed.

“This building will feel very bright and welcoming and a place that feels special for the tenants to call home,” Purdy said.

The Charlotte Lewis

Two three-story buildings – with a total of 12 units – and a courtyard will be constructed on a lot on Northeast 72nd Avenue, next to Cully Park.

The design of the Charlotte Lewis is more residential in nature so that it will fit in with the single-family structures of the neighborhood. The exterior will be straight edge shingles painted light gray with gable roofs.

A unique layout will be used to serve families: The first floor will have single-story apartments, while the second and third floors will hold two-story apartments. Each one will have its own private entryway on the outside.

To accommodate the layout, Purdy said the team shifted the buildings’ locations. Then team members found spots where they could place pops of pastel colors from the Charlotte Lewis palette.

Project challenges

Like any affordable housing project, many needs had to be met in order to land the tax credits and accommodate groups involved. However, the Isaka Shamsud-Din building, in particular, is a bunch of puzzle pieces coming together, Purdy said.

Two months into design and schematics, the team learned a two-foot dedication was required along 14th Place and a three-foot one on Killingsworth Street.

“Unfortunately, we found out about the dedications after the owner had committed to the number of dwelling units provided for the federal tax credits,” Purdy said, noting that once tax credits are secured for a project, its programming can’t change.

In addition, the site is also along an urban corridor. Altogether, it required the team to pull back the façade facing Killingsworth Street. That was tough, Purdy said, because especially with affordable housing there isn’t much flexibility to absorb such changes.

The Charlotte Lewis site didn’t come with any surprise dedications. Instead, its main challenge was to move an existing driveway in order to accommodate the new building’s layout.

Currently, the goal is to break ground in November or early December, Brown said.

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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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