Project name: Wecoma Place

Location: Lincoln City

Completion: June 2024

Size: 35,155 square feet

Owner/Developer: Stewardship Development

Architect: Otak

Engineers: Froelich Engineers, Humber Design Group, MFIA,

General Contractor: Walsh Construction

Submitting Company: Otak

Other Key Participants: Oregon Housing and Community Services, Housing Authority of Lincoln County

Subcontractors: Absolute Construction Services, Academy Specialties, Aleman’s Flooring, Browns Architectural Sheet Metal, Buffalo Welding, Gormley Plumbing + Mechanical, Inland Electric, PONO Building Consultants, Sign Wizards, Teragan & Associates

A new affordable housing development is bringing relief to residents displaced by the 2020 Echo Mountain Fire, overcoming significant site challenges to provide much-needed homes on Oregon’s coast.

Wecoma Place, a 44-unit development in Lincoln County, provides apartments at 56 percent and 30 percent Area Median Income levels, primarily serving seniors who lost homes in the devastating wildfire that struck the region four years ago. The building’s design draws inspiration from the coastal landscape, featuring three distinct masses resembling geomorphic beach formations. Exterior siding incorporates patterns reflecting the region’s wind-swept grasses, integrating the structure with its surroundings.

The project stands out for its innovative approach to zoning compliance and site adaptation. It presents as a two-story structure from Highway 101 while actually incorporating a four-story building with an adjacent outdoor courtyard.

Developers faced formidable obstacles, including a steep 30-foot grade change, multiple city sewer easements, and an existing single-family residence surrounded on three sides by the project site. These factors had previously hindered development efforts.

The successful execution required extensive collaboration between contractor Walsh, ownership group Stewardship, and the architecture and engineering team led by Otak.

Sustainability features include solar-ready and electric vehicle-ready infrastructure, allowing for future renewable energy and EV installations. The development also utilizes materials specifically chosen for durability in the coastal environment, protecting against moisture, salt air, and high winds. A central courtyard serves dual purposes as recreational space for residents and buffer from adjacent Highway 101. The design prioritizes natural   light throughout living spaces.

The development promotes multimodal transportation with adjacent access to a bus stop and bike lane, plus on-site parking options.

During construction, the general contractor implemented a comprehensive safety program focusing on training, planning, measuring, and relating. Weekly safety check-ins with tradespersons created a proactive safety culture.

The project had a 20 percent MWESB contracting goal and achieved 22.10 percent participation.

As Lincoln County continues recovering from wildfire impacts, Wecoma Place represents a significant step toward rebuilding the community while addressing critical affordable housing needs along Oregon’s coast.

Agencies instrumental to the project were Oregon Housing and Community Services and the Housing Authority of Lincoln County.

The post Wecoma Place appeared first on Daily Journal of Commerce.

Project name: University of Oregon (UO) Portland Multi-Building Campus ProjectLocation: Portland

Completion: September 2024

Size: 251,380 square feet

Owner/Developer: University of Oregon, Portland

Architects: Housing (27^th Avenue, 30^th Avenue) – Holst Architecture; Oregon House – Peter Meijer Architect; Library & Learning – SRG Partnership; Highland Hall – Lever Architecture; Portland Campus Center – Opsis Architecture; Innovation Building – TVA Architects; General Campus and Holman Apartments – Soderstrom Architects (exterior), PLACE (landscape architect)

Engineers: Housing (27^th Avenue, 30^th Avenue) – Interface Engineering; Oregon House – KPFF, ColeBreit Engineering; Library & Learning – Holmes, Interface Engineering, Samata Consulting Engineers; Highland Hall – Valar Consulting Engineering, Arris Consulting, Reyes Engineering; Portland Campus Center – Catena Consulting Engineers, Interface Engineering; Innovation Building – ABHT Structural Engineers, Interface Engineering, Capital Electric; General Campus – Capital Engineering & Consulting

General Contractor: Howard S. Wright, a Balfour Beatty company

Submitting Company: Howard S. Wright, a Balfour Beatty company

Other Associates/Key Consultants: General site – Sav A Tree; Highland Hall – O-LLC Lighting Designers, University of Oregon Energy Studies in Buildings Laboratory; Innovation Building – Jensen Hughes (code consultant), Tenor Engineering (acoustics), m.thrailkill.architect (specifications)

Subcontractors: A2 Fabrication, Allegion Access Technologies, Asbestos Abatement Contracting, Bell Hardware of Portland, Berrien Concrete, Brandsen Hardwood Floors, Bratcher Painting, Building Material Specialties, Chown, Clean World Maintenance, Columbia River Painting, Concrete Inspection Services, Culver Glass, Curtis Restaurant Equipment, Dallas Glass, Davidson’s Masonry, DeaMor Associates, Detailed Touch Painting, Diverse Works, EC Company, Excalibur & Associates, Faustrollean Fixture, Finish Line Concrete Cutting, Floor Solutions, Flynn BEC, Fred Shearer & Sons, Funax Cleaning Services, Gibson Door & Millwork, Harlen’s Drywall, Hermanson, Interior-Exterior Specialist, J.S. Perrott & Co., Janelle Waltz, Johnson Controls, Lanz Cabinet Shop, Legend Custom Woodworking, Linear Floor Installers, Matrix Industries, McDonald & Wetle, McKinstry, Metro Access Control, Michael’s Precast Concrete, Mid Valley Glass & Millwork, Ness & Campbell Crane, NW Construction Services, OEG, Paragon Tile & Stone, Pavement Maintenance, PBS Supply, Pdx Pressurewash, PDX Refinishers, Performance Contracting, Pioneer Sheet Metal, Pioneer Waterproofing, Prestige Tile & Stone, Pure Safety Group, Pye-Baker Fire & Safety, RDH Building Sciences, Refa Erection, Reyes Engineering, Rubenstein’s Contract Carpet, Savatree, Sawtooth Caulking, SDB Contracting Services, Sharon Maxwell, SI Contracting, Skyline Construction Services, Spectrum Custom Interiors, Streimer Sheet Metal Works, Superior Interiors, Super Metal Fab, T Gerding Construction, Teufel Nursery, The Johnson Collective, Thermobond Buildings, Town & Country Fence Co. of Oregon, Valley Shades, WH Cress, Weitman Excavation, Western Partitions, Western States Fire Protection, WFJ Janitorial Services, Zeeland

The University of Oregon has breathed new life into the former Concordia College campus in Northeast Portland through a comprehensive project that reimagines the historic property for modern educational needs.

Howard S. Wright partnered with UO on the transformative initiative spanning more than 14 separate refresh projects, working alongside 23 different architects and designers to create contemporary residential, educational, research and administrative facilities. There were more than 500 craftworkers onsite, with craftperson hours totaling 122,964.

At the heart of the renovation is the UO Portland Campus Center, originally constructed in 1953. Opsis Architecture led a dramatic transformation that removed solid walls from previous additions to visually connect formerly disconnected spaces. The team replaced a concrete bearing wall with steel columns and relocated networking systems to a prefabricated concrete shelter to ensure campus resilience during seismic events.

The Innovation Building, designed by TVA Architects, represents a sustainable approach that retained much of the existing structure while creating naturally lit corridors flanking open design studios. The former chapel now serves as Innovation Commons, featuring custom pivoting steel frame walls that transform the space from intimate presentation areas to a large event hall. A key feature of the space is the platform, which functions as both a stage and a backdrop for storage.

Perhaps most distinctive is Highland Hall’s transformation from a former gymnasium into the new home for the Department of Architecture. Lever Architecture preserved the building’s historical significance while incorporating innovative sustainability features. Highland Hall’s new entry vestibules, two new seminar rooms and partial height dividing walls between studios are constructed from 7-inch-thick mass plywood panels reclaimed from a test structure at the TallWood Institute’s A.A. “Red” Emmerson Advanced Wood Products Laboratory at Oregon State University. The project team noted that this is the first project they are aware of to reuse mass plywood panels at this scale. The renovation also included extensive envelope upgrades exceeding current energy codes.

All projects were completed with minimal disruption to campus operations, ensuring students could occupy housing buildings ahead of academic years 2023 and 2024.

The university emphasized exceeding minority, women and emerging small business participation goals by enhancing accessibility to bid packages and tailoring them to accommodate smaller firms’ needs. The team more than doubled the goal, with an average of 19 percent MWESB participation.

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Project name: The Hazel Ying Lee Apartments

Location: Portland

Completion: August 2024

Size: 125,890 square feet

Cost: $55,271,925

Owner/Developer: Home Forward

Architect: Holst Architecture

Engineers: ABHT Structural Engineers, KPFF, Samata Consulting Engineers

General Contractor: Colas Construction

Submitting Company: Colas Construction

Other Key Participants: Portland Housing Bureau

Subcontractors: Able Fence, Acousti-Level, Affordable Electric, All About Flagging, All Seasons Insulation, Architectural Metalcrafters, AT Publix, Authority Dock & Door, Building Material Specialties, Cascade Radon, Cascade Tower & Rigging, Compaction and Recycling, Cosco Fire Protection, CSL Structures, DDN Interior Supply, DE-EL Enterprises, DeWitt Construction, Eagle Striping Services, Eastside Paving, Elemental Energy, Exteriors Design, Grant Painting, Great Floors, Huntco Supply, Hunter-Davisson, Interior Technology, K&D Services of Oregon, Keywest Retaining Systems, Klinger Masonry, Lanz Cabinet Shop, M&M Construction Services, McCoy Millwork, McDonald & Wetle, MK Fall Protection, Mt. Hood Steel & Wood, Northwest Masonry, Northwest Scaffold Service, Oregon State Bridge, Outdoor Play & Amenities, Pacific Landscape Services, Paulson’s Floor Covering, River City Glass & Window, Ross Recreation Equipment, Santiago Concrete, Sawtooth Caulking, Schindler Elevator, Standard TV & Appliance, Superior Interiors, Tapani Plumbing, Timber Technologies, Ultra Star, VPI Quality Windows, WH Cress

The Hazel Ying Lee Apartments, a 206-unit affordable housing development in Southeast Portland’s Creston-Kenilworth neighborhood, has transformed a largely vacant lot into a community-centered living space that sets new standards for affordable housing design.

Designed by Holst Architecture and built by Colas Construction, the project features cost-effective wood-frame construction over a taller ground-floor podium that accommodates loft-style units and shared amenities. Named after the first Chinese American woman to fly for the U.S. military, the four-story complex features an innovative X-shaped layout that maximizes density while creating protected courtyards and pedestrian pathways. The distinctive design, which earned the Portland Design Commission’s Design Excellence Award in 2021, reflects the neighborhood’s character with multicolored brick and white fiber-cement panels. The overall aesthetic is eye-catching, with curved facades and colorful brick patterning giving it an almost sculpture-like quality.

The development serves households earning 30 percent to 60 percent of Area Median Income, including 30 units dedicated to families emerging from homelessness. Unlike typical affordable housing, it offers larger family-focused units and amenities including a playroom, playground, basketball court and computer lounge.

Construction posed significant engineering challenges, requiring more than 130 deep foundation piles driven 100 feet into Portland’s unstable soil. Colas Construction, a Black-owned firm, erected its first tower crane for this project, noting it is the first ever by a Black or brown contractor west of the Mississippi.

The apartments feature air conditioning and free Wi-Fi in common areas, with a large laundry room containing over 24 washers and dryers. With a Walk Score of 89, residents enjoy excellent access to public transit.

Sustainability was prioritized throughout development. The building achieved Earth Advantage Platinum certification and includes rooftop solar panels and all-electric systems supported by the Portland Clean Energy Fund.

In partnership with the Immigrant & Refugee Community Organization, the complex provides culturally specific services supporting immigrant, refugee and BIPOC families.

To honor the building’s namesake, Home Forward gave child residents two books: “The Fearless Flights of Hazel Ying Lee” by Julie Leung, connecting residents to Lee’s legacy as a Cleveland High School graduate who made history during World War II, and “A Kids Book About Construction” by Andrew Colas, reinforcing a legacy of inspiration and opportunity.

The project team achieved 45 percent workforce diversity on the project; the goal was 20 percent. Apprentices had a key role on the development, responsible for 18.5 percent of project work hours.

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Project name: Splash

Location: Portland

Completion: November 2024

Size: 335,000 square feet

Owners/Developers: Security Properties, MetLife Investment Management

Architect: Mithun

Interior Designer: Bumgardner

Engineers: SSF Engineers, Tapani Plumbing, Patriot Fire Protection

General Contractor: R&H Construction

Submitting Company: R&H Construction

Other Key Participants: GTG Consultants, Marx/Okubo & Associates, City of Portland – Bureau of Planning and Sustainability and Bureau of Development Services, City of Portland Permitting & Development, Radler White Parks & Alexander

Subcontractors: Academy Specialties, A-Cut Above Concrete Cutting, A-Line Asphalt Maintenance, Alpha Construction, American Trash Management, Anderson Pool Works, Anderson Sandblasting, Architextures dba DLM, Authority Dock and Door, Bergelectric, BrightService Cleaning, Brix Paving Northwest, Builder Services Group dba JB Insulation, Builder’s Appliance Supply (BASCO), Canby Consulting, Concrete Inspection Services, Concreteworks Studio, Construction Specialties, CPC Equipment, Dallas Glass, DCI Engineers, Desert Sage WalL Systems, Dorothy Tester Sales, Eagle Striping Service, Frontier Door and Cabinets, Geopier Northwest, Graffiti Removal Services, Hills Wet Blasting, Interior Technology, Intuitive Engineering, IRS Environmental of Portland, Jack’s Overhead Door, Kent Crane Inspection Services, Klinger Masonry, Konell Construction & Demolition, LaRusso Concrete, Marion Construction, McDonald & Wetle, Mid-Valley, Morrow Equipment, Mt. Hood Steel & Wood, NessCampbell Crane, Northwest Scaffold Service, Ocean Park Mechanical, Oregon Commercial Painters, Pacific Excavation, Pacific Foundation, Pacific Green Protection, Pacific Stone Installers, Parker Concrete, Patriot Fire Protection, Paulson Floor Coverings, Pavement Maintenance, Performance Contracting, Pioneer Millworks, Pioneer Sheet Metal, Portland Fasteners, Proclean, Railpro of Oregon, Rapid Response Bio-Clean, Red Dog Fabrication, River City Environmental, Sawtooth Caulking, Sign Wizards, Specialty Metal Fabricators, Stealth Monitoring, Sunbelt Rentals, Superior Fence & Construction, Tapani Plumbing, Teufel Nursery, ThyssenKrupp Elevator, Tradebrothers NW, Uncommon Cabinetry, VPI Quality Windows, Westlake Consultants, Westside Drywall, Whirlpool, Willamette Building Services, WMX Construction

The corner of Northeast Sandy Boulevard in Portland’s Kerns neighborhood has undergone a dramatic transformation with the completion of Splash, the first phase of the Pop Blocks development on the former Pepsi bottling facilities site.

The Splash development is comprised of two main parts: a ground-up mixed-use building and the renovation of the adjacent Pepsi pavilion. Splash Apartments is an eight-story mixed-use building divided into two towers united by skybridges on six floors. The bridges feature a DMX controller lighting system that rotates patterns and colors every 15 minutes from dusk until dawn, creating a distinctive visual landmark. The building features 219 residential units in a mix of live/work space, market-rate apartments, townhouse units and affordable housing. The ground floor features commercial spaces.

The development includes 8,600 square feet of community plazas on the east and south sides, filled with planters, architectural wood benches and a 23-foot polished stainless-steel sculpture designed by Portuguese artist Michael Benisty. The 3,500-pound artwork, titled “Splash,” is one of the most significant pieces of quasi-public art installed in Portland in the last 25 years.

Splash was Portland’s first Planned Development and the city’s second five-over-three construction project. Project general contractor was R&H Construction and designer was Mithun.

The project preserved the iconic 1961 Pepsi pavilion, renovating the mid-century structure with its distinctive curved roof while maintaining the original architectural intent. After purchasing the site, Security Properties was given a stack of old drawings of the building, including the original architectural drawings done by Scott & Payne in 1959. Mithun was able to take that information and recreate the original design intent using modern materials. The renovated 8,000-square-foot pavilion is now lease-ready for commercial use.

Splash incorporated several sustainable innovations, including a water heating system using Nyle Reverse Cycle Chiller units that eliminate natural gas and use significantly less electricity than traditional electric water heaters. The system has garnered national attention, with the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance monitoring its performance.

The development has received the largest incentive rebate check ever from the Energy Trust of Oregon and is on track to achieve Earth Advantage Platinum certification. Additional sustainable elements include 40 electric vehicle charging stations, drought-tolerant landscaping, ample bike parking and low-VOC construction materials.

Splash is the first phase of a larger master-planned redevelopment on the 5.5-acre site. A multi-modal woonerf was developed on the north side of the development, a nod to future phases of the site’s masterplan.

The post Splash appeared first on Daily Journal of Commerce.

Project name: Redmond Library

Location: Redmond

Completion: September 2024

Size: 40,000 square feet

Cost: $31.5 million

Owner: Deschutes Public Library

Owner’s Representative: Redpoint Construction Management

Architect: The Miller Hull Partnership, Steele Associates Architects

Interior Designer: The Miller Hull Partnership

Engineers: KPFF, HWA, Interface Engineering

General Contractor: Kirby Nagelhout Construction Co.

Submitting Company: Kirby Nagelhout Construction Co.

Other Associates/Key Consultants: Blanca Lighting Design, Mayer Reed, Morrison Hershfield, Plus and Greater Than, Studio Pacifica, Tenor Engineering Group, Walker Macy

Subcontractors: Advance Cabinet Designs, Advanced Technology Group, Andres Landscape, Apollo Sheet Metal, Beacon Roofing Supply, BrandSafway Services, Building Material Specialties, Ceniga Masonry, Central Oregon Garage Door, Central Oregon Roofing, Deschutes Concrete Construction, Deschutes Painting, Energy Conservation Insulation, Fabulous Floors, Hickman Williams & Associates, Interior Technology, Joni’s Construction Cleaning, Max Manufacturing, Metro Tint, Mike’s Fence Center, Mt. Hood Corps., Northwest Framing Systems, Pacific Decorative Concrete, Phoenix Fire Protection, Rixir Systems, Simple Safety Solutions, Skyline Sheet Metal, SouthTown Glass, StructureCraft Builders, Summers Wood Floor, Sunlight Solar Energy, Terminix, TK Elevator, Tomco Electric, Western Partitions

The new Redmond Library offers residents a state-of-the-art facility that nearly doubles the size of its predecessor while incorporating cutting-edge sustainable design elements.

The two-story, 40,000-square-foot structure stands on the same site as the original library following approval of a Deschutes Public Library bond measure by county voters. The project is part of a larger initiative to renovate existing libraries and construct two new facilities throughout the county.

Designed through a partnership between Seattle-based The Miller Hull Partnership and local firm Steele Associates Architects, the building features an innovative mass timber framework that provides both structural integrity and aesthetic appeal. The use of acoustic dowel-laminated timber sets the project apart. It reduces the need for additional acoustical elements while maintaining the open nature of the spaces.

Brick buildings are a theme throughout the city of Redmond, so the new library is brick-clad but in a darker tone and laid out in a stacked-bond style to set it apart as a modern building.

The library’s distinctive design includes a feature staircase fabricated by Bend’s Max Manufacturing and a large custom sculpture by renowned Pacific Northwest artist John Grade, inspired by Central Oregon sagebrush.

Beyond traditional library services, the facility offers multiple community-focused amenities including multi-purpose spaces, a children’s discovery area, and maker spaces for activities like sewing and 3D printing. Adults and teens can utilize collaborative areas designed for studying and co-working.

For user convenience, the building includes a drive-up window for materials pickup and drop-off during or after library hours.

Sustainability was prioritized throughout construction, with photovoltaic solar panels installed on the roof and over parking areas to help the building achieve net-zero energy consumption. The facility is on track for LEED Gold certification, with Platinum certification possible. Additional eco-friendly features include electric vehicle charging stations, ample natural lighting through skylights and clearstory windows, and the elimination of PVC materials outside of mechanical and electrical systems.

Located adjacent to community parks, schools and residential areas, the library is positioned to become a central hub for Redmond residents.

The construction was completed by Kirby Nagelhout Construction Co. in coordination with Redpoint Construction Management and the architectural firms, with all parties citing the high degree of communication and collaboration as key to the project’s success. There was significant local participation on the project, with 60 percent of trade partners from the area.

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Project name: Meridian Gardens

Location: Portland

Completion: September 2024

Size: 40,361 square feet

Owner: Central City Concern

Architect: Ankrom Moisan Architects

Interior Designer: Ankrom Moisan Architects

Engineers: Tapani Plumbing, Ecotope, MFIA

General Contractor: Walsh Construction

Submitting Company: Walsh Construction

Other Key Participants: Portland Housing Bureau, Multnomah County Joint Office of Homeless Services, Department of Behavorial Health Services, Oregon Housing and Community Services, US Bank, Umpqua Bank

Subcontractors: All Trades General Contractors, Ambrose Glass, Andres Landscape, Applied Technical Systems, AT Publix, B&T Striping & Curbing, Berrien Concrete, Best Cabinet & Granite Supply, Brothers Construction, Buffalo Welding, Castle Masonry & Restoration, Centurion Fire Protection, Civic Construction, Columbia Allied Services, Elemental Energy, G&L Janitorial, Gorilla Hardware, Ha’s Painting, Interior Technology, Jack’s Overhead Door, Kodiak Pacific Construction, KONE, Lauzon Contracting, Mt. Hood Corps., NW Umpqua Roofing & Waterproofing, PARCA Floors, Pioneer Sheet Metal, Pioneer Waterproofing, Point Monitor, Polaris Electric, RDF Builders, Sign Wizards, Specialized Pavement Markings, Standard TV & Appliance, Tapani Plumbing, Ultra Quiet Floors, United Brothers, Vale Insulation Group, WESSCO, WMX Construction, Zavala, Zochert Fence

A new affordable housing development in Southeast Portland is taking an innovative approach to addressing homelessness by combining permanent supportive housing with recovery services.

Meridian Gardens, the third phase of Central City Concern’s Division Street Campus, offers 85 units for individuals and couples experiencing or at risk of homelessness who are in substance use disorder treatment or recovery.

Located in the Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood, the development features Single Room Occupancy and studio apartments. Sixty-five units provide permanent supportive housing with federal rent assistance vouchers, while 20 homes are reserved for households with incomes between 31 percent and 50 percent of the area median income.

The project stands out for its holistic approach to housing instability, following the “housing first” model that prioritizes providing individuals with permanent housing as a foundation for addressing other challenges. By approaching affordable housing with holistic and integrated solutions, the project reduces the barriers to affordable housing and disrupts the cycles of instability that often accompany homelessness.

Meridian Gardens includes amenities designed to create dignified living spaces: shared computer workstations, recovery group rooms, trauma-informed design, and raised garden beds shared with a neighboring building. The Central City Concern’s Puentes recovery program provides culturally responsive services delivered by peer support specialists.

The development also demonstrates significant commitment to sustainability as Central City Concern’s first all-electric building. Sustainable features include solar panels, EV chargers, a heat pump hot water system, and mini-splits for every unit. The project even includes an emergency generator to increase building resiliency during power outages.

In collaboration with the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance and Portland General Electric, the project incorporates a monitoring system to collect data on energy use and equipment performance in low-income, mid-rise multifamily housing.

Transportation accessibility was another key consideration. Metro contributed $500,000 through its transit-oriented development program, supporting the creation of affordable housing near public transportation. The complex is located on Division Street, where TriMet’s FX2-Division high-capacity bus line offers service to Downtown Portland every 12 minutes throughout most of the day.

Critical partners in developing Meridian Gardens included the Portland Housing Bureau, Multnomah County’s Joint Office of Homeless Services, Department of Behavioral Health Services, Oregon Housing and Community Services, US Bank and Umpqua Bank.

Walsh Construction surprised the 30 percent MWESB goal on the project, achieving 36 percent.

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Project name: Mahonia Crossing

Location: Salem

Completion: September 2024

Size: 318,601

Owner: Community Development Partners

Architect: Scott Edwards Architecture

Interior Designer: Scott Edwards Architecture

Engineers: Interface Engineering, Stonewood Structural Engineers, Westech Engineering

General Contractor: Gerding Builders

Submitting Company: Scott Edwards Architecture

Other Associates/Key Consultants: PLACE

Subcontractors: 3Form, Academy Specialties, All-Seasons Landscape, Alpha Construction, Andres Landscape, B&T Striping & Curbing, Bell Hardware-Salem, Black Line Glazing, Brothers Construction, BRX, Bryker Enterprises, Building Material Specialties, Cascade Radon, Columbia Cascade, Construction Specialties, Corvallis Tree Care, Crown Ridge Construction, Dallas Glass, DE-EL Enterprises, Double Eagle, Evergreen Valley, Forms + Structures, Fred Eichler Construction, Gelco Construction, Great Northwest Gutters, GVA Northwest, H3O, Home Insulation, Interior Technology, Jet Industries, K&E Excavating, Kelly’s Appliance, Kelly’s Home Center, Key West Retaining Systems, Kraft Masonry, Lanz Cabinets, Lindstrom Construction, McDowell Concrete, Merit Contractor, Meyer Sign Co. of Oregon, Mid-Valley Commercial Construction, Mid-Valley Glass & Millwork, Norse Iron Works, North Santiam Paving, Northside Electric, Northwest Waterproofing, Nugent Masonry, Omlid & Swinney Fire Protection, Oregon Cascade, Oregon Door Consultants, Outdoor Fence, Pacific Air, Pacific Construction, Painter a Boles Bros., PDCI, Phillys Plumbing, Phoenix, Precision Countertops, RC Building Specialties, Roy Houck, Sign Wizards, Smith Glass, Spinneybeck Filzfelt, Stutzman & Kropf Contractors, Sunbreak Energy Advisors, Superior Interiors, TerraCalc Land Surveying, TGC Structural, Tims Carpet & Interiors, TK Elevator, Top Dog Turf, Topline Counters, Ultra Quiet Floors, Valley Shades, Western Partitions, Westside Drywall & Insulation, Willamette Windows & Doors, Zochert Fence

In the wake of devastating 2021 wildfires that left many Salem residents without homes, a pioneering housing development is offering a new approach to affordable living while fostering connections across generations.

Mahonia Crossing, one of the largest “Community for All Ages” developments and the first in Salem, integrates senior housing with family-centered residential walk-ups in a mixed-income community serving residents in 30 percent, 60 percent and 80 percent area median income brackets.

The development, designed by Scott Edwards Architecture, departs from traditional suburban multi-family housing by organizing walk-up buildings around a central park rather than distributing them across a parking grid. This thoughtful approach to site planning creates numerous spaces for residents to interact.

A mass timber, Path-to-Net-Zero community building anchors the development’s entrance, featuring a lobby that connects resident services and amenity spaces. The building includes a large common room with an open floor plan ideal for cooking and nutrition classes.

The senior building serves as a gateway to the central park and includes viewing decks and a first-floor fitness center to increase accessibility for older residents. This strategic positioning encourages daily multi-generational encounters.

Interior spaces prioritize natural light and views of the landscaping through large windows and open floor plans. The design incorporates site-reclaimed white oak and uses a blend of traditional and contemporary elements with vibrant colors for a lively feel. The National Green Building Standard certified development features sustainable elements throughout, including low-to-no-VOC finishes, energy-efficient lighting and appliances, and local manufacturing for cabinets and tile.

Despite complexities from overlapping construction phases to meet urgent housing needs after the wildfires, the development team maintained a collaborative environment to deliver the project on time and on budget.

Beyond providing housing, Mahonia Crossing successfully integrates into an existing middle-upper-class neighborhood by using architecture and landscape design to build community and create opportunities for residents of all ages to connect.

Salem Housing Authority was pivotal to the project’s success, providing 56 project-based vouchers for the development and providing the developer with the ability to receive a full property tax exemption.

The Mahonia Crossing project had a contracting goal of 20 percent DMWESB participation, and Gerding Builders exceeded the target, achieving 27 percent actual participation.
The predominantly minority-and-women-led design team also represented more than 20 percent DMWESB participation.

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Project name: DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital

Location: Portland

Completion: November 2024

Size: 63,520 square feet

Owner/Developer: DoveLewis

Architect: Mackenzie

Interior Designer: Mackenzie

Engineers: PAE, Mackenzie, GRI

General Contractor: Skanska USA Building

Submitting Company: Skanska USA Building

Subcontractors: American Direct, Anning Johnson, Bauwerk Safety Systems, BMS, Cash’s Drapery, Coffman Excavation, Consurco, Corona, Dallas Glass & Window, Dennis’ 7 Dees, Diverse Works, Don Frank Floors, EC Electric, Elder Demolition, ETS-Lindgren, Faithful Fence, Hanset, Harding Steel, Interior Technology, Legend Custom Woodworking, McDonald & Wetle, Ness Campbell Crane, Nugent Masonry, Otis Elevator, Overhead Door, Pacific Foundation, PAS, R2M2 Rebar & Stressing, Sawtooth Caulking, Sign Wizards, Stoncor Group dba Stonehard, Steimer, Viking Automatic Sprinkler, WFJ Janitorial

DoveLewis’ new emergency animal hospital is revolutionizing veterinary care in the Pacific Northwest, offering specialized treatments previously unavailable in Oregon.

The three-story, 63,520-square-foot “Whiskers” building stands in Northwest Portland, just across from DoveLewis’ existing 24/7 emergency clinic. While the original facility continues handling urgent cases, “Whiskers” focuses on specialty care with some of the most advanced medical technology in the country.

The hospital features one of the nation’s most powerful MRI-PET machines, operating at 3 Tesla units compared to the typical 1.5 Teslas. This equipment serves diverse patients – from household cats and dogs to more exotic animals like kangaroos.

The building is an accredited teaching hospital and is one of the only facilities of its kind in the United States. It offers specialty animal care that is not available anywhere else Oregon. The facility includes specialized exam and surgery rooms, oncology and neurology departments, separate feline and canine wards, and three outdoor patios. For staff, amenities include a maternity room, conference space and breakrooms.

Construction presented numerous challenges due to the tight urban site. The building’s footprint is surrounded by four adjacent buildings, some within inches of proximity. The limited space required meticulous planning, with materials ordered months in advance for just-in-time delivery. At peak construction, nearly 100 workers navigated the confined site, requiring daily huddles and weekly meetings to coordinate activities and ensure safety.

The new steel and concrete structure – designed to be seismically resilient with connected brace frames, shotcrete walls and interior steel – combines exterior metal and terracotta wall panels with CMU and features an underground parking garage, automated car stackers and a green roof. Interior finishes consist of standard ACT and hard lids, storage and casework with integral stainless steel, exposed concrete, carpet, and epoxy flooring in rooms needing a higher degree of sanitation.

Visible from above as a distinctive paw print pattern, a vegetated green roof functions as a stormwater filtration system while reducing the heat island effect, lowering energy costs and improving air quality.

During construction, the Skanska team led weekly tours for the client and potential donors to help raise additional funds for the project. One client donor was able to have their dog, Griffin, walk through the concrete in the front lobby and the paw prints were filled with epoxy to memorialize his touch on the hospital.

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Project name: C-TRAN Maintenance Building

Location: Vancouver, Washington

Completion: January 2024

Size: 14,500 square feet

Cost: $11 million

Owner/Developer: C-TRAN

Owner’s Representative: The Wehana Group

Architect: Ankrom Moisan

Interior Designer: Ankrom Moisan

Engineers: Miller Consulting Engineers, Glumac, Shaprio Didway

General Contractor: Tapani Inc.

Submitting Company: Ankrom Moisan

Other Associates/Key Consultants: The Wehana Group

Subcontractors: Able Fence, Alcal Specialty Contracting, Ambrose Glass, Architectural Specialties, Arctic Sheet Metal, Axiom Roofing Oregon, Benz Air Engineering, Bryker Enterprises, Castle Masonry & Restoration, Davis Door Service, Empire Painting, Farwest Steel Reinforcing, Freres Engineered Wood, Galifco Oregon, GB Manchester, Glenco Creations, Graymills, Hydro-Tech Fire Protection, Insulpro Projects, Interior Technology, Larusso Concrete, Mass Tank, MC Interiors, Mill Plain Electric, MJS Contracting, Mt. Hood Steel and Wood, North Star Industries, Northwest Lift & Equipment, NW Flooring Solutions, Nwestco, Oregon Door Consultants, Peak Environment, Piper Mechanical, Polished 3, Rixir Systems, Sawtooth Caulking, Spray On Foam & Coatings, Standard TV & Appliance, Valley Shades, Western Wood Structures, WH Cress

C-TRAN has completed a multi-phase campus expansion featuring a new maintenance facility designed to accommodate the agency’s diverse fleet while prioritizing employee well-being.

What began as a request for “a small barn for buses” evolved into a comprehensive facility after a needs assessment revealed greater requirements. The project prioritized immediate needs first: expanded parking followed by the maintenance facility. The project began with the demolition of the existing administration building and temporary operators trailer to construct an expanded parking system. Throughout construction, the site remained fully operational, a critical requirement for the public transportation provider.

The site’s new layout is devoted to safety, movement and security. The flow of buses and the different needs of end-users were centered throughout the multi-step process.

The maintenance building, a one-story industrial concrete tilt-up structure, can service up to six transportation vehicles. Following site diagrams of how buses enter the facility and identifying what they need before being sent back on the road again, the project team reviewed the various site users and made room for every type of transportation vehicle – from trucks and vans to special types of buses, including short and articulated. The facility features specialized machinery for different maintenance levels. Buses enter the facility to fuel up, undergo exterior washing to remove grime and excess fuel, and park in designated areas for fare collection before returning to service.

Unlike typical maintenance buildings that often feel enclosed and rely heavily on harsh fluorescent lighting, C-TRAN’s facility incorporates glass apertures and windows to maximize natural light. Even with its doors closed, it is a great space to work, utilizing natural resources like light to feel spacious and open. This design choice aims to enhance employee well-being while working indoors.

The Wehana Group, a tribal-owned owner’s representative, played a critical role as an intermediary between designers, owners and the project contractor.

The campus expansion includes parking areas for employees, buses, visitors and an upcoming park-and-ride facility.

All safety precautions and programs implemented during construction met or exceeded industry standards.

“By integrating sustainable design, innovative layout solutions and durable materials, the facility ensures long-term operational success,” said Mariah Kiersey, Ankrom Moisan senior principal and Office/Retail/Community Studio co-leader, in the project submission form. “This project demonstrates how thoughtful design can elevate essential infrastructure.”

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Project name: City of Happy Valley Library Expansion

Location: Happy Valley

Completion: August 2024

Size: 10,700 square feet

Cost: $9,348,302

Owner/Developer: City of Happy Valley

Architect: Scott Edwards Architecture

Engineers: Harper Houf Peterson Righellis, Interface Engineering

General Contractor: Bremik Construction

Submitting Company: Bremik Construction

Other Associates/Key Consultants: ABD Engineering and Design, Reyes Engineering, Vertex Technology Design and Consulting

Subcontractors: Anderson Specialties, Architectural Metalcrafters, Authority Dock & Door, B & T Striping and Curbing, BASCO, Bell Hardware, Bryker Enterprises, Building Material Specialties, Cascade Acoustics, D & H Flagging, Dallas Glass, Diamond Concrete Products, Duke Construction & Excavation, Eastside Paving, Elementary Energy, Fire Systems West, Hercon Rebar & Post Tension, Hilltop Commercial Supply, Insulation Contractors, Integrity Industries dba Cement Elegance, Interior Technology, Longhorn Geomatics, MB Structures, McDonald & Wetle, Northwest Masonry Restoration, Pacific Window Tinting, Paulson’s Floor Coverings, Piper Mechanical, Portland Electrical Construction, RedBuilt, Rich Holland Painting, Skyline Sheet Metal, Spectrum Custom Interiors, Superior Interiors, Ultra Quiet Floors, Van Lom Concrete, Vaughn Environmental, Wallace Steel, Wright Manufacturing, Zeeland

The City of Happy Valley’s 10,700-square-foot library expansion transformed an existing space into an enhanced community hub for the city’s 55,000 residents.

Designed around the concept of “The Community’s Living Room,” the expansion includes a 300-person community room that can be divided into smaller spaces, private study rooms for both individual and group use, and improved accessibility features.

The architectural design bridges old and new, with the existing library structure inspired by book spines while the expansion draws from book binding imagery. This concept appears throughout the project, from the zigzag facade addressing the steep slope to matching acoustic treatments inside. The triangular, sloped site required an intentional floorplan that maximized every square foot: even niches and nooks have purpose.

The expansion maintains a single public-facing level for accessibility despite challenging terrain, with a staff-only lower level housing mechanical equipment and storage. The design orients the community room toward an adjacent nature reserve, maximizing visitors’ connection with the natural surroundings.

Interior spaces feature wood tones echoing the exterior’s vertical slats, exposed structural glulams in the community room, and neutral, durable materials that support various activities and easy maintenance.

Construction presented multiple challenges, including proximity to a habitat conservation area, maintaining library operations throughout the project, and winter weather delays that extended completion by three days.

The expansion outperforms Oregon Energy Code requirements by 30 percent, incorporating sustainable elements including a 33-kilowatt solar photovoltaic array, installed by Portland Electrical Construction in partnership with Elementary Energy; all-electric HVAC systems for energy-efficient climate control; and advanced insulation techniques to improve thermal performance. A robust stormwater management system mitigates runoff and protects the adjacent habitat conservation area.

Though not required by contract, the project team prioritized community engagement by partnering with several local businesses.

The collaboration among Bremik Construction, Scott Edwards Architecture, and multiple engineering firms ensured the project addressed technical complexities such as aligning new HVAC systems with existing infrastructure and coordinating sophisticated utility networks.

“T��� Happy Valley Library Expansion has been an overnight transformation for our community living room,” said Ben Bryant, Happy Valley assistant city manager, in the project nomination form. “Our typical programs such as story times more than doubled in average attendance within the first weeks of opening. Moreover, the project was delivered on-time, under-budget, and with zero workplace injuries.”

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