PUBLIC PROJECT

Jurors were impressed with the conscientious design of the new Willamette River Water Treatment Plant. Credit: Photo by Kevin Haislip/HaisliPhotography

Award of Excellence
Willamette River Water Treatment Plant, Wilsonville, Ore.

Submitted by: Montgomery Watson Harza, Portland, Ore.

The design and construction of the Willamette River Water Treatment Plant in Wilsonville implemented a number of unique methods - from an expedited permit process to the use of an environmentally sensitive water treatment process - to create a thoughtful and effective public project.

"Very rarely does one see conscientious design in purely utilitarian projects," said one juror.

The plant diverts water from the Willamette River into a 100-ft. deep and 50-ft. dia. circular caisson. The facility cleans and disinfects the water to make it suitable for drinking.

Design, permit acquisition and construction of the treatment plant had to be completed within an aggressive 28-month schedule to enable to City of Wilsonville to lift a moratorium that had prohibited new development until a new water supply was put in place. Additional urgency was created when the state of Oregon decided to develop the Coffee Creek Correctional Facility (a Best of 2002 Honorable Mention winner in this category) in the city. Meetings between Montgomery Watson Harza and the city resulted in an informal consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service under the Endangered Species Act, instead of the need for a formal biological opinion, which would have required several additional months. All federal, state and local permits for the project were in hand less than 7 months after award of the contract.

The design-build project used high-quality materials - including stone, brick, wood and textured concrete - in various elements of the exterior wall facing a 5-acre adjacent nature park, also created as part of the project. Visitors to the park are treated to a series of cascading ponds, rock walls and an open meadow.

The creation of the open space was made possible by the use of efficient building design. All of the treatment facilities are laid out in a compact linear form along the eastern boundary of the site. The use of a high rate ballasted sedimentation process was selected because of its efficient use of space. A conventional sedimentation process would have required an area 15 to 30 times larger to achieve the same sedimentation effectiveness.

"Excellent interaction of form and function," said another juror. "This was not your stereotypical water treatment plant."

Other project team members included Slayden Construction, Natt McDougall Co., Tigard Electric, The Miller Hull Partnership and Murase Associates.

PUBLIC PROJECT

The Eugene Public Library is one of several new projects revitalizing downtown Eugene. The new Eugene Public Library joins a new bus station and federal courthouse in downtown Eugene, as well as a number of smaller projects. Credit: Photo courtesy of Robertson Sherwood Architects

Honorable Mention
Eugene Public Library, Eugene, Ore.

Submitted by: John Hyland Construction, Eugene, Ore.

The new Eugene Public Library is a long-awaited replacement or an aging existing library, and represents a large part of a multi-project plan to revitalize the city's downtown core.

The library joins a new bus station and federal courthouse downtown, as well as a number of smaller projects. Its design features a 164,000-sq.-ft. cast-in-pace concrete frame structure clad in brick with underground parking and a mechanical level on top. The building includes four elevators, a glass atrium, terrazzo entry and a 30-ft. dia. circular staircase.

Conformity to a number of the US Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy Efficient Design (LEED) standards means the library is expected to obtain energy savings of approximately 30 percent above code requirements. The structure also features extensive daylighting and natural ventilation systems, and construction has made use of many recycled and nontoxic materials.

The John Hyland Construction team worked efficiently within a tight site. Crews would form and cast half of a section while the other half was being formed. Then the first forms would be stripped and leapfrog to the next section. Once it got started, the sequencing allowed the crew to be forming, pouring and stripping all at the same time, completing the concrete casting schedule on time, in 31 weeks.

Robertson Sherwood Architects of Eugene was the library's architect.

PUBLIC PROJECT

The $110 million, 425,000-sq.-ft. Coffee Creek Correctional Facility features a medium and minimum security women's prison as well as a male and female intake center. Photo by Photo Design

Honorable Mention
Coffee Creek Correctional Facility, Wilsonville, Ore.
Submitted by: Hoffman Construction, Portland, Ore.; and DLR Group, Seattle, Wash.

The recent completion of the Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville has resulted in not only a necessary detention facility for the community, but also a project that exemplifies quality and innovation in design and construction.

The $110 million, 425,000-sq.-ft. compound features a medium and minimum security women's prison as well as a male and female intake center. The two-year construction phase followed a four-year public siting process. The project, located on 107 acres in Wilsonville and out of sight of all but a few neighbors, was completed under budget and two weeks ahead of schedule.

The design of the facility utilized standard forms of geometry and detail to simplify the construction of the facility. As a result, erection of precast panels progressed quickly and without safety incidents or quality problems.

The prison has also been recognized for reaching high standards of green and sustainable design. The most efficient combination of daylighting and lighting systems created the maximum illumination necessary for security's visibility requirements while lowering energy use in an environment that runs 24 hours a day. Sensors help maintain low energy use based on occupancy.

The facility will be 40 percent more energy efficient than Oregon code requires. Approximately 3.3 kilowatt hours of electricity and 170,000 therms of natural gas will be saved over a prison of comparable size built according to traditional designs.

DLR Group was the project's architect, while Hoffman Construction served as its general contractor. Vickers Foster & Associates was the project manager.

PRIVATE PROJECT

Judges noted how well The Gregory's architecture blends into Portland's Pearl District neighborhood. Photo by Jeff Krausse

Award of Excellence
The Gregory, Portland, Ore.
Submitted by: Ankrom Moisan Associated Architects, Portland, Ore.

Judges were impressed by the how well The Gregory blends into Portland's historic Pearl District neighborhood.

"Project will endure over the years," said one juror.

"It should offer unique amenities now and should, as it gracefully ages, blend nicely into this particular urban fabric," noted another.

The mixed-use building features 184,000 sq. ft. of urban housing with street level retail space and office space on two floors. Its scale, materials and massing is similar to its new neighbors, but the structure offers a nod to the area's historical ambiance with vertical pilasters; its clear delineation of a base, middle and top; its window treatment and its gracious entryway. The Gregory is situated between the two Central City Streetcar lines, bringing residents closer to nearby restaurants, shopping and entertainment.

Inside, upscale finishes include isolated solid wood flooring assemblies, isolated double stud walls between units, terrazzo lobby flooring, and custom bronze elevator fronts and fixtures.

The Gregory's location close to the downtown core contributes to the control of urban sprawl, traffic congestion and pollution. Three partial floors between retail and residential uses fills a gap in the new flexible small to medium size office space in the neighborhood. It also provides an opportunity for residents to live and work on the same property.

The project team was challenged to bring the product to market in a timely fashion. Elimination of basement parking and use of a massive mat slab foundation was critical to achieving the schedule goal. The team also worked closely with the City of Portland to achieve fast-track incremental construction permit review.

Ankrom Moisan Associated Architects was the project's architect, and Howard S. Wright Construction Co. was the general contractor.

HEAVY/HIGHWAY/TRANSPORTATION

The $99 million Interstate MAX Line Section 10a/b involves 4.5 miles of street reconstruction and light rail construction from property line to property line. Photo courtesy of Stacy and Witbeck

Award of Excellence
Interstate MAX Line Section 10a/b, Portland, Ore.
Submitted by: Stacy and Witbeck, Portland, Ore.

The Interstate MAX Line Section 10a/b in north and northeast Portland is the first federally funded light rail project in the United States to use the construction manager/general contractor method, and has resulted in speedier construction and the opportunity to maximize the owner's cost benefits.

The $99 million light rail project involves 4.5 miles of street reconstruction and light rail construction from property line to property line. Work includes underground utilities, curbs and sidewalks, bridge work, ballasted and paved track, seven stations and a complex half-grand union to tie into owner Tri-Met's existing alignment.

CM/GC Stacy and Witbeck's collaboration with the design team started at the 30 percent design stage. Collaboration between contractor and design team focused on constructability issues and resulted in a faster schedule and minimized impacts to the traveling public, adjacent businesses and the residential community. Value engineering resulted in approximately $10 million in savings during the design review process as well as another $2 million in value engineering savings after construction started.

"At a time when it seems that every street in Portland is torn up due to construction, it is refreshing to see projects like this that truly do expedite schedules and seek other innovative solutions," commended one judge.

The project not only met, but exceeded the surrounding neighborhoods' requests to involve Disadvantaged Business Enterprises in the work. Apprentice hours for all trades totaled approximately 20 percent of the 500,000 man-hours worked. DBE subcontractors performed almost $20 million of the work, or 20 percent of the total cost. Approximately 8 percent of these dollars went towards small DBE firms that had never had the opportunity to perform on a public works project.

RENOVATION/RESTORATION

Extensive seismic upgrades in the Stadium Building were part of the Oregon State Fair and Exposition Center renovation project. Credit: Photo courtesy of Pence/Kelly

Award of Excellence
Oregon State Fair and Expo Center, Salem, Ore.
Submitted by: Pence/Kelly Construction, Salem, Ore.

The contractor's attention to the customer and the bottom line meant that extensive renovations and upgrades to the Oregon State Fair and Exposition Center were completed within budget and without disruption to the year-round activities on the grounds.

The project provided general restoration, systems upgrades and seismic upgrades to 10 state fair buildings and a complete replacement of the campus' underground infrastructure, including fire main, domestic water, and storm and sanitary sewers. Pence/Kelly Construction's work was performed while the Oregon State Fair grounds remained open for business.

Enhancements were made in every building on the grounds, from 72,000 sq. ft. of new metal siding on Columbia Hall to new rain gutter systems in six buildings. The plumbing systems of every building were converted from taps off the fire system to the new domestic water system. Fire detection and sprinkler systems were added to two buildings, and sprinkler systems were added to another. Electrical systems were replaced, rewired and revamped. New storm pipe, sanitary sewer pipe and water pipe were added or replaced, and the entire campus was brightened with more than 5,500 gal. of paint.

The marquee project was the restoration and seismic upgrade of the historic Stadium Building, The horse event arena, viewing stands and brick structure were build circa 1910 and required considerable attention. New concrete footings and 12-in. thick, 80-ft. long concrete shear walls were constructed in each corner of the building. These were joined to the new structural steel roof supports, shear beams and the new perimeter column system by a thick concrete "collector" strap 20 ft. high along each wall. The new structure was then attached to the unreinforced masonry walls with more than 3,000 screen dowels.

Crews were constantly aware of the need to stay within budget and thus used innovative and money-saving techniques at every turn. The cornice on the Stadium Building is a composite of new and old parts, panels torn from the outside of the building now line the inside, and roofs were often patched instead of replaced.

"Quality construction work," noted one juror. "Saving existing construction is important to community and the agricultural sense of the fair."

WEGROUP Architects and Planners (Bend, Ore.) was the project's architect. Kramer Gehlen and Associates (Vancouver, Wash.) was the structural engineer and Harper Houf and Righellis (Portland, Ore.) was the infrastructure engineer.

RENOVATION/RESTORATION

Crews transformed a struggling outlet mall into medical offices; the Physicians Medical Center. Photo courtesy of Lease Crutcher Lewis

Honorable Mention
Physicians Medical Center, McMinnville, Ore.
Submitted by: Lease Crutcher Lewis, Portland, Ore.

What was formerly a struggling outlet mall has since been transformed into a medical office that will house McMinnville's largest doctors cooperative, Physicians Medical Center.

A declining retail climate prompted developer Canterbury Real Estate to develop part of the strip mall into a medical office. Lease Crutcher Lewis began tenant improvements in May, creating 40 medical exam rooms, doctors office space and radiology and urology suites. The project was completed in September.

Generating medical office space from retail space was a challenge in many ways. As it was originally built, the strip mall was never intended for medical office use. For example, the mechanical and electrical requirements for the new facility are far more extensive than those of the former retail mall. Each of the 40 exam rooms are equipped with sinks, requiring individual plumbing for each room. Numerous individual heating and cooling zones are also needed, as the patient rooms are designed to be warmer than the waiting room and physicians' offices.

The original HVAC system was designed to service each retailer individually. These were replaced with one large overhead duct that carries air from one end of the once-strip mall to the other, connected by an extensive system of small ducts installed to service each room. This new system creates 21 separate heating and cooling zones where previously only one per retailer existed.

Once the entire mall is completely transformed, it will likely house office, healthcare and office support retail tenants.

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

Architects for Outside In used materials creatively to design a youth center for street teens. Credit: Photo by Michael Mathers

Award of Excellence
Outside In, Portland, Ore.
Submitted by: Clark Kjos Architects, Portland, Ore.

The design of this agency for street youth is welcoming for its clients while respecting surrounding architecture and its neighbors.

Outside In provides health services, counseling, programs and transitional housing to disenfranchised youth. Located mid-block on a downtown Portland site in an area or emerging urbanization, Outside In's neighbors include a 4-story historic brick office building, an 8-story apartment building, a parking lot and a recessed interstate freeway across the street. It is located close to street youth "hang-outs," yet in an area with few neighbors to object.

The design was developed to attract and engage youth, and Clark Kjos Architects used a variety of colorful and unique materials in the structure's design, including metal panel siding, patterned brick tile, exposed structural steel and architectural metal work. A wall mural at the client's former location had become a local landmark and inspired the sunscreen, created by a local artist. This perforated metal sunscreen/art mural expresses the organization's non-judgmental outreach.

The basic arrangement of the building promotes both the internal community of street kids and relates to the larger community issues. Neighbors were concerned about loitering, so an L-shaped building and "street wall" were created to define an open-air garden/courtyard focal point. The courtyard provides kids with a protected, secure outdoor space of their own.

"The designer took risks, but pulled it off," noted one juror. "Design reflects careful thought about the needs of the teens, the neighborhood, as well as Outside In's budget."

The project's $3.6 million budget relied heavily on donations from the public as well as subcontractors, suppliers and the design team.

Swinerton Builders (Portland) was Outside In's general contractor.

TENANT IMPROVEMENT

Crews transformed an old downtown Portland hotel into the chic Hotel Lucia. Photo by Kirsten Force

Award of Excellence
Hotel Lucia, Portland, Ore.
Submitted by: Ankrom Moisan Associated Architects, Portland, Ore.

Designers were up for a challenge when they were tasked with transforming an old hotel known as "the cheapest place to stay downtown" into a luxurious boutique hotel.

Built in 1908 and located on Broadway Street in Portland's theater district, the former Imperial Hotel was touted as the longest continuously operating hotel in the city. To balance the nature of the bustling area, Ankrom Moisan Associated Architects' concept was to create drama within a tranquil and seductive setting utilizing simple but high contrast palettes with deep colors and simple geometry.

The surfaces were stripped of floral, plaid, brass and faux painting surfaces down to the plaster and concrete. Inside, designers worked to gather a variation of tables, chairs and armoires with a mix of rich espresso and merlot stain colors on various wood species to give each room an individual attitude. The variation of pieces used portrays a hotel with furnishings collected over a period of time. To ensure the quality of the final result, architects designed and procured each piece in all 128 guest rooms.

To make the bathrooms seem more spacious, glass countertops support stainless steel bowls Porcelain tile was used on the floor and the walls. To simplify the room, details were used sparingly with the addition of a grid of stainless steel grommets sewn into a soft terry cloth shower curtain draped from a curved chrome rod.

The long walls in the hotel's main lobby became a permanent display of eclectic black and white photography of Pulitzer Prize winning photographer David Hume Kennerly, inspired by one of the hotel's primary investors' modern art collection.

Jurors were taken with the hotel's interior design, commenting on the simple but classy décor.
"Very nicely done, very enticing," said one juror. "Details are rich and materials are allowed to speak for themselves without having to be fussy or 'gimmicky.'"

Howard S. Wright Construction Co. of Portland was Hotel Lucia's general