Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

What is the scope of the HT building renovation?

The HT building is functionally separated into two halves over 3 and 4-floor levels respectively: the east side contains instructional spaces, offices, and an open atrium circulation space. The west side contains the gym, pool, and other fitness-associated spaces. The HT building renovation will occur mainly on the east side of the HT building. A portion of the HT basement, which sits on the west side of the building, is also part of the renovation and will house the Medical Imaging department.

There are plans to include west-side renovations for the first floor of the HT building as part of the next bond. Currently, these west side renovations under consideration include a new all-user locker room, Exercise Science & Physical Education spaces, and operational areas for the locker room and pool.

How will programs be accommodated while construction in the HT building takes place?

Exercise Science and Physical Education will maintain some of the westside instructional areas such as the gymnasium on the second floor, where the Fitness Center has been relocated (during HT building construction). Instructional areas to remain open on the first floor include the pools, locker rooms, and the Exercise Science Labs. A swing plan was developed for the departments and classes that are required to move due to the construction. Some programs will move permanently, while other programs will move temporarily to wait for the construction.

What programs will come back to the HT building when the renovation is complete?

The renovation will deliver spaces in the HT building as outlined below.

• Level 3: Several general-purpose classrooms, Architecture and Interior Design instructional spaces and labs, and support/common space.
• Level 2: Nursing teaching areas and laboratories, the consolidated office suite, 2 all-user restroom locations outside of the existing gymnasium, and Exercise Science instructional space.
• Level 1: Physical Education, Exercise Science, and Dance instruction space.
• Basement: Medical Imaging instructional space, a general-purpose classroom, and additional all-user restrooms. IT offices will remain in the building.

How long will construction last?

Construction of some of the enabling projects started in fall 2020, which included the installation and construction of the Temporary Modular Units (Modulars) in Sylvania¡¯s parking lot 12. The Modulars provide space for Architecture and Interior Design offices, Physical Education and Exercise Science offices, and several general-purpose classrooms while construction takes place. Construction of the Medical Imaging project in the basement of HT started in December 2020. The next large project after the Medical Imaging project is the construction of the Biology department offices and laboratories on the second floor of the ST building, which started in winter 2021. The bulk of the construction on the east side of the HT building is slated to begin in summer 2021 and it will last until spring 2023.

Is there a chart showing when and where the programs will move?

Yes. View the chart showing when and where the programs will move.

Why is Biology moving out of the HT building?

Several factors were considered early in the planning process when determining the final location of the Biology department. The investment in a temporary location for laboratories that can offer students, faculty, and staff safe and comfortable learning spaces was extremely expensive. In addition, the college considered how Biology fits with other programs on campus in alignment with the Academic and Career Pathways. The design team has worked closely with the Biology department to develop spaces that can support quality, experiential, and hands-on education for the next 50 years. Biology will be located in the ST building along with other science program spaces.

The decision to relocate Biology to the second floor of ST was predicated on the relocation of the Architecture and Interior Design classrooms and offices, as well as Math and Engineering offices. Architecture and Interior Design will be moved into HT once the renovation is complete. In the meantime, their temporary classrooms and offices can be found in the new Modulars located in the P12 parking lot. During the last weeks of December 2020, the P&CC team successfully moved the Math offices to SS, and the Engineering offices were moved to their new home in the TCB.

Do all the programs that were operating at the HT building stay at Sylvania Campus during construction?

Programs will stay at Sylvania Campus with the exception of classes taught at the Nursing Simulation Lab, which will be offered out of the Cascade Campus. A brand-new space for the Nursing Simulation Lab is currently in the design phase and will be built within the existing Cascade Campus Public Services Education building (PSEB). When construction at the HT building is complete, the Simulation Lab will become home to the Cascade Campus EMT program.

The Dental program moved out of the HT building to its new location on the third floor of the Vanport Building (formerly known as the Fourth and Montgomery Building) in downtown Portland.

Will there be access to the HT building and functioning restrooms while construction happens?

There will be access to the basement of the building where the IT department has its offices, and where the Medical Imaging laboratories and teaching areas will function. Part of the basement renovation includes the addition of several all-user single-occupant restrooms. These restrooms should be fully functional and complete when construction starts on the east side of HT. The former fitness center (HT 02) has been temporarily moved to the gym. During construction of the east side of HT, there should still be access to the gymnasium, locker rooms, exercise science teaching spaces, and the pool. In addition to the new restrooms in the basement of HT, there will also be new restrooms available to use during construction located just outside the gym on the second floor. When campus opens back up, please be sure to read all signs while near any area of construction. As construction progresses, routing around the site will change. Please follow all signage as it is there to keep everyone safe.

Will the HT building’s floors open in stages or would the entire building open at once?

Once the construction of the Medical Imaging suite is finished, the entire basement will open. The gymnasium on the second floor will also be open for Physical Education programming and to accommodate the fitness center swing space. After that, all construction activities will need to be completed for the building to open for staff and students.

Where will the gym equipment go that used to be in the basement HT 02 and HT 08?

The fitness center (HT 02) equipment has been moved to the gymnasium on the second floor temporarily until the new fitness center space is opened in 2023. The weight training room equipment (HT 118) will be relocated to the gymnasium as well. The group exercise programming that normally occurs in room HT 08 will be relocated to a new swing space within the AM building. The Engineering department is agreeable to letting the Physical Education department utilize the AM 125 and 126 rooms. The current plan is to remove the demising wall between these spaces to allow for group exercise activities. Once the HT renovation is complete and Physical Education moves into its new spaces, the AM 125 and 126 will be converted into one large classroom for Engineering. This has been a great partnership between programs at the college to meet the short-term needs of one group, while also fulfilling long-term goals for another group.

Will there be fitness classes during the construction of the HT building?

Yes, there will. The Physical Education and Dance program will continue to offer a variety of courses utilizing the gymnasium, pool, outdoor sports fields, track, and group exercise swing spaces.

The Exercise Science program will continue to offer its full program of classes.

What are the plans for restrooms in the HT building?

Early in the design process, the project team identified the need to incorporate restrooms on all floors of the HT building. All the restrooms planned for this building will be all-user restrooms. This is in line with the college¡¯s initiative to increase gender-inclusive spaces.

What are the all-user restrooms going to look like?

All-user restrooms (also known as all-gender) are facilities that anyone can use regardless of their gender. The HT renovation will include single restrooms and multi-stall all-user restrooms. All restrooms will have fully accessible options.

Single all-user restrooms are private rooms with a toilet, sink, and in some cases a shower.

Multi-stall all-user restrooms will have shared sink areas for all users. The individual toilet compartments will have full-height walls, doors with frames, exhaust fans, and locks that indicate open or occupied. These restrooms benefit everyone including parents with children of a different gender, people with disabilities who may require the assistance of a person of a different gender, transgender, and gender diverse people. Baby changing stations will be available in some restrooms.

Are the HT locker rooms planned to be remodeled?

The HT locker rooms are not in the scope of this current renovation project for the east side of the building. However, there is a plan to completely remodel the locker rooms during the next phase of work for the west side of the HT building as part of the next bond. The locker rooms are planned to be designed for all users to feel welcome by incorporating private shower stalls including a dry area for dressing, private dressing rooms, private toilet compartments, and lockers in a shared area.

Is COVID-19 a consideration in planning for the HT building renovation?

The project team is designing spaces with a pre-COVID-19 framework. Depending on when the college decides to open back up for in-person instruction, there will be a number of operational considerations that will be implemented to ensure everyone¡¯s safety such as restricted paths of travel and room capacity in each space. These changes would be district-wide and not specific to the HT building alone.

What is the thinking behind the consolidated offices in the renovated HT building?

The consolidated office is occurring to maximize the areas in the HT building. This is different from the current structure, where each of the HT departments have their own private space. The consolidated office option was selected because it provides a number of benefits. The consolidated offices provide a centralized location for students to connect with faculty and programs. This arrangement will increase student access to support services because of the overlapping work hours of support staff. In addition, users of the space will benefit from the efficiencies of shared assets, such as meeting rooms, storage, office equipment, and a break room. The consolidated office suite also allows for the other programs and uses of the building to gain more square footage by avoiding redundancies.

What types of spaces are included in the consolidated office in HT?

The consolidated office in the HT building combines all the different departments¡¯ office spaces into one, large 10,000-square-foot area. Plans for this suite include a reception area, small group meeting rooms, a medium-size conference room, faculty workstations, private offices, department storage, a shared break room, and a shared copy and supply room. The main entry for the consolidated office suite is located off the central atrium space along a prominent corridor to ease wayfinding.

What will be the setup for the new classrooms in the building?

The HT team was tasked by the college to determine how contemporary, student-centered, and culturally responsive teaching methods can shape the design of PCC classrooms. The HT building general-purpose classrooms will be the pioneers of a new design. To plan for these spaces, the base consideration is general-purpose classrooms that incorporate furniture and technology to encourage different types of teaching and learning modalities. Design and stakeholder input continues into winter term.

What are the plans for outdoor improvements?

The current plans call for several changes which continue to be studied. To begin, there are plans to remove the southeastern concrete “bunker” of restrooms outside of HT (between HT and CC). Removing the structure and adding a lawn area opens and renews the connection between HT and CC. Also, it creates a new accessible outdoor area. Additionally, landscape and furniture are planned that will encourage outside activities, such as teaching, playing, relaxing, and studying. A few permanent outdoor tables with seating areas and different locations for benches are in the plans. Raised planter beds are located on the southeastern side of the open area. In between HT and CC, there are also plans to include some hard paved areas that can be used by programs for instructional space.

How can students become part of the design process?

Since the early stages of the design, the project has sought student involvement via targeted events, focus groups, workshops, and invitations to campus-wide open houses and feedback fairs. There are opportunities underway during Winter 2021 to participate in focus groups to review plans and provide input regarding collaboration areas, classrooms, and all-user restrooms. A campus-wide survey is planned to go out during winter term 2021 to capture comments and feedback. The project team also invites students to review updates on the project webpage, and reach out with questions and comments.

How is stakeholder input incorporated into the project?

This project required, sought, and continues to look for opportunities to learn from students, faculty, and staff. Extensive stakeholder efforts were pursued during visioning, programming architectural meetings, and focus workshops. Input continues to contribute to and shape the design of the spaces. The project team documents input and comments received from each meeting and works with the Planning and Capital Construction team to incorporate what is feasible and within budget into the plans.

Not all the input received is incorporated into the project plans. This project scope has its limits and it must work within time and budget constraints, as well as create a project that can be maintained and properly staffed when it is handed over to campus and facilities management services.

What are the guiding principles for the design of the HT project?

The principles are framed by learning-centered for student success. The principles were formulated with input from all campus stakeholders during the pre-design phase. The principles that help guide the decisions and the inspiration for design are below.

• Welcoming all while representing program missions.
• Making equitable spaces for inclusive teaching and learning.
• Nesting specialized programs in a collaborative environment.
• Centering on health and wellness in a sustainable manner.

In addition, principles of Critical Race Theory (CRT), universal design, and sustainability and resiliency guide the process and the approach to design.

How will the HT construction project promote construction equity and access?

Construction has historically been a male-dominated and relatively racially homogenous industry. With a workforce shortage looming, the need to build a workforce that better reflects the community is critical. PCC understands that shifting workplace culture and building the skills of diverse workers leads to economic prosperity and a stronger workforce. The HT project will model PCC’s commitment by asking construction contractors to achieve 20% BIPOC trades workers (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), 15% tradeswomen, and 20% apprentice hours in each trade. Additionally, minority, women, and emerging and disabled veteran-owned businesses should be performing 20% of the subcontracting work. PCC will work closely with contractors to track and achieve these goals in our commitment to equitable access to high-wage construction careers. In addition, there is a heavy emphasis on all PCC projects to foster respectful workplaces in alignment with the Safe From Hate pledge.

What sustainability considerations are included in the plans for the renovation?

The project is pursuing LEED for Building Design + Construction certification and WELL Building Certification. Some of the initiatives that support the project¡¯s sustainability and resiliency goals are:

• Replacing the roof and providing space for a photovoltaic array (also known as solar panels) to offset the environmental impact of electrical use.
• Planning for the updated mechanical system to bring cool nighttime fresh air into the building, a technique often referred to as night flushing, by regulating the percentage of outside air intake throughout the day and night to reduce energy consumption during peak cooling hours.
• Installing new windows with Low-E glazing to increase energy efficiency and improved daylighting in interior spaces, contributing to healthier learning environments.
• Saving the existing concrete structure which reduces the embodied energy needed for the project (the energy required for the extraction, processing, manufacture, and delivery of building materials to the building site), while taking advantage of the building’s thermal mass.
• Incorporating a new air handler unit and ductwork that will provide more efficient heating and improved indoor air quality.
• Installing efficient, low-flow water fixtures to conserve water.
• Using low VOC sealants, paints, carpets, and wood products to preserve the quality of life of the building occupants.
• Installing new LED lights throughout the building, reducing energy consumption.