Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Health Technology building and site improvements – west side

This project will renovate the west side of Sylvania’s Health Technology (HT) Building and complete a full upgrade of this 1960s-era facility. Phase 1 the HT renovation began in 2018 on the east side of the building. This phase is scheduled to be complete by Summer 2023.

Phase 2 of the HT west side includes a major interior renovation to Level 1 with the creation of an all-user locker room and improvements to the existing fitness studios and exercise science spaces. The project will repurpose the natatorium space to offer programs and services that support PCC’s mission of equitable student success. Additionally, the project will incorporate building systems improvements to address deferred maintenance in the existing gymnasium space. Capital repair work will improve and, in some cases, replace existing mechanical, electrical, and roofing systems to align with the improvements on the east side of the building.

Project goals include upgrading and enhancing the existing spaces to create a welcoming environment that celebrates health and wellness and emphasizes connectivity between interior spaces and the campus beyond. Sustainability is a fundamental design and building criteria at PCC and this project will pursue LEED NC v4.1 certification. The building design will be informed by project sustainability workshops and building energy modeling, and will make use of energy incentives from the Energy Trust of Oregon.

The design process will feature an extensive and inclusive stakeholder outreach and engagement process that includes workshops on applying a critical race spatial lens and build on the engagement work from the HT east side project with multiple engagement strategies and formats throughout the course of the project.

Health Technology building and site improvements – east side

The renovation of Sylvania’s Health Technology (HT) building is the largest project in the 2017 bond. Built in the late 1960s, the HT currently houses STEAM and health professions classrooms.

While the massive building is divided into three main sectors (east, west, and diving and lap pool), this renovation will focus on the east side of the building with plans to upgrade the remaining areas in the future. The project includes the build-out of several departments including Architecture, Interior Design, Nursing, Medical Imaging and Radiography, Physical Education, Exercise Science, and a series of support and collaboration spaces throughout.

While construction takes place, the existing programs on the east side of the building will need to be relocated. Some programs will move temporarily and some permanently in order to provide a better educational synergy for students. In addition to the large renovation for the HT building, P&CC has identified about 20 smaller renovation projects on the campus to accommodate all the departments being displaced during construction. Through diligent coordination and planning, the majority of these smaller renovations will be permanent improvements to the Sylvania campus even after the main HT renovation is complete.

This plan also includes adding some temporary structures onto campus during construction to alleviate some of the needed swing space.

This project has been characterized by its heavy approach to stakeholder engagement. With the help of users and the campus community, the project concluded the design phase. During predesign, the design team worked extensively with the college to catalog all of their needs, wants, and must-haves for incorporation into the design. During the schematic design phase, numerous test fits have aimed to maximize the efficiency of each program’s area within the existing floor plate and structure. The plans show evidence of the HT project goals of increasing wayfinding, accessibility, and inclusivity while also adding to the college’s sustainability goals.

The renovation also includes site improvements to enhance campus safety, accessibility, transit, and connectivity. Campus sustainability will be improved with increased landscaping and stormwater retention. Additional trees will extend the campus tree canopy, which can help cool temperatures in parking areas.

Campus exterior wayfinding signage

This project will enhance the exterior signage and wayfinding throughout the Sylvania Campus. The work includes an assessment of existing signage, the development of a wayfinding strategy utilizing PCC’s Standards and stakeholder feedback, and the installation of new exterior signage.

Exterior sign types include:

• Site identification
• Building identification
• Vehicular wayfinding
• Parking Lot and Parking Space identification
• Permit and Pay Station identification
• Public transportation and biking
• Pedestrian wayfinding
• Accessible wayfinding
• Regulatory (No Smoking, Designated Smoking Area)

View the Sylvania Campus Exterior Wayfinding Research and Analysis Report.

Medical Imaging suite: completed

An enabling project in preparation for the HT east side renovation delivered transformed spaces for the Medical Imaging program in the basement of the HT building. The new spaces designed for medical imaging training include a radiology lab used for practicing positioning, twin x-ray rooms with a console, a computer lab, a modest kitchenette, a student lounge area, and meeting rooms. The HT basement also gained a general-purpose classroom and four single-user restrooms with this renovation. The medical imaging learning spaces are complemented with technological upgrades such as new non-energized training equipment.

Biology suite: completed

Until 2021, the biology labs used to be nested in the HT building. As part of the planning for the renovation of the HT building, these labs were identified as one of the most complex projects to swing ahead of the construction schedule. The Sylvania Campus Science and Technology (ST) building presented program synergies as well as an opportunity to expand the program’s square footage to meet its current and future needs. The biology suite built on the second floor of the ST building was completed in the fall of 2021 offering six brand new science laboratories: two general biology labs, two anatomy and physiology (A&P) labs, one microbiology lab, and one flexible lab. Each of these labs features state-of-the-art lab stations. The build-out also includes a large stockroom, office space, and unique student areas.

Automotive and Metals building upgrade

Based on extensive evaluations of the existing AM building and its systems, construction started in June 2021 to address several deferred maintenance items and deliver improved areas. The work includes upgrades to the existing mechanical system; a new exhaust system for the Makerspace equipment; replacement of the electrical gear; and the remodeling of existing classrooms 125 and 126 into one large temporary swing space to accommodate PE classes during the HT renovation. Once the HT Renovation is complete, this space will be fitted out as a large new classroom for the Engineering department.

The exterior scope includes accessible parking and sidewalk upgrades in the parking lot east of the AM, new site lighting, and restriping of the existing lot. This project is pursuing the percentage for Green Grant with the City of Portland. This funding would allow extending the existing Sylvania Falls stormwater treatment facility at the entry of the P5 lot. This will not only continue the college’s sustainability and environmental efforts on the campus but will also act as an educational component for the college and the surrounding community.

College Center roof replacement – phase I

Phase I of this project replaced the raised roof areas directly over the central mall of the College Center. While there is a plan for replacing the entire CC roof in the coming years, this work is intended to address immediate needs and resolve existing leaks.

Geographic Information System (GIS) buildout: completed

Two existing general-purpose classrooms were remodeled to accommodate a new GIS computer lab and space for student collaboration. Thanks to work that entailed new lighting, podiums, and finishes along with new furniture and computers, GIS is able to use these new areas.

College Center roof assessment: completed

The assessment of the Sylvania Campus College Center’s roof helped with the planning and design of the roof replacement. The investigation confirmed as-built plans, design assumptions, and verified the existing roof composition through a series of roof samplings. The College Center roof assessment helped identify priorities to be addressed by the college.

Child Development Center: completed

The new, state-of-the-art Child Development Center (CDC) at Sylvania Campus opened in fall 2019. The innovative center was designed to support the educational mission of Sylvania’s Early Childhood Education program, which uses the CDC as a practicum site. At this facility, PCC staff will continue to provide high-quality care and education for young children while their parents study or work on campus. The new facility plans allowed for the campus to increase the number of children it serves from 46 to 74. The center features more than 14,000 square feet of light-filled classrooms and programming spaces, as well as 8,000 square feet of landscaped, naturalistic playgrounds with a water feature and real logs and boulders.

Bookstore rooftop HVAC

The heat ventilation air conditioning unit was replaced in the Sylvania Bookstore. The crew finalized the work by balancing and cleaning up the control systems.

Utility tunnels: completed

The project team conducted core tests of the existing tunnel structure as well as inspected the existing piping to determine the current tunnel status. This information has been turned over to the engineering team for assessment and future recommendations. No further work is expected during this bond cycle.

Fuel tanks assessment: completed

Inici/EVREN Northwest Inc. was hired to assess the condition of existing fuel tanks at Rock Creek, Swan Island, and Sylvania to provide the college with a set of recommendations based on their findings. Recommendations will include potential increases or decreases in capacity based on existing use, potential decommissioning, relocation, disposal, or sale of the existing tanks and their contents. The assessment reported that the Sylvania tanks are in good condition. There is no further action required at this time.