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.

Engagement kick-off

P&CC hosted the online engagement kick-off meeting on March 7, 2023, as a first step in the design process for the renovation of HT West. It focused on the all-user locker rooms. This public forum, the first in a series of events planned for public input, provided attendees with a project status report and an opportunity to raise questions and concerns about past decisions and future design considerations. Public comments and questions, which were delivered verbally or by text, were not responded to in real-time but instead were recorded to enable staff to issue a consistent response that could be of benefit to the entire community.

Q&A summary

Questions and concerns raised during the ninety-minute public comment portion of the March 7 kick-off meeting were recorded and are responded to below in writing. Many of the points raised similar concerns. To minimize redundancy and preserve anonymity, public comments were generalized into the following 16 questions. Responses have been thoughtfully considered yet many remain difficult to answer until the design process gets underway. Rather than a definitive statement, this written record of community concerns will serve as an ongoing checklist of design considerations used to inform design decisions.

Design-related

Design-related questions and answers

Question	Answer
Will the renovation of the HT West feature one all-user locker room for everyone, or three separate locker rooms for men, women, and all-user? I believe the latter would be preferable.	PCC has decided to feature one all-user locker room, based on multiple factors. One reason is throughput: an all-user facility allows a greater number of people of any gender identity to access the facility at any given time. This also distributes wait times equitably. Contemporary locker room designs are moving away from communal areas for changing and showering, towards individual private areas, which impacts throughput.   The new all-user locker room will include options that provide visual privacy for people who are not comfortable being seen by individuals of different genders while performing sensitive activities (e.g., changing, showering, toileting.)   Having a separate all-user option continues to segregate and isolate individuals and groups who are not comfortable in gendered spaces (e.g., trans and nonbinary people, caregivers, and parents accompanying people of other genders).
Has a final design already been created for the all-user locker room?	No. The project is currently in the “Engagement and Programming” phase. Design of the project is anticipated to begin this summer. While previous design schemes have been presented to select PCC community members in the past, this design team is taking a fresh start with the goal of best meeting the needs of all users.
Can you share examples of successfully built all-user locker rooms, to provide a better sense of how these work?	Yes. Please see the links below for selected examples: University of Washington Intramural Activities Building (IMA) Gardiner Middle School (Oregon, US) Rosemont Aquatic Center (Quebec, Canada) Portland Building (Oregon, US)
I prefer separate locker rooms for staff and students, which was the case previously. Will there be separate locker rooms for staff and students in the new design?	The design of the locker room is yet to be determined. Currently, information from end-users is being collected which will be considered along with the idea of separating students and staff and other constraints, including space availability.
Current locker rooms (elsewhere on campus) pose functional challenges: restroom stalls are too small to change in, it is difficult moving between activity zones, poor acoustics, stall gaps, and water going everywhere in shower/changing cabanas. How will the all-user locker room address these issues?	Thank you for raising these challenges in the existing building. Hearing this feedback allows the design team to address these needs when designing the all-user locker room.   Until the project starts the actual design of the space, a specific answer to this question is not yet available. In general, these concerns may be addressed by the spatial sequence of activity zones (e.g., changing rooms in close proximity to lockers), adequately sized stalls, acoustic insulation, full-privacy stall partitions, and adequate drainage.
Will the all-user locker rooms include wudu stations for Muslim individuals? This would make it so that Muslims do not have to put their feet into a sink.	Thank you for raising this need. The design team will  consider this need and address it in future milestone reports.
As an employee, I would prefer full-size lockers, to hang up clothes. Will this be included in the all-user locker room?	Thank you for raising this need. The design team will  consider this need and address it in future milestone reports.
Will the all-user locker room include private toilet stalls that include sinks? This can be useful for accidents or embarrassing situations.	Yes. However, the exact number of these stalls, and the fixtures they include, have yet to be determined.

Comfort

Comfort questions and answers

Question

Answer

How will the all-user locker room account for the safety and comfort of groups who are uncomfortable sharing spaces with each other? (e.g., faculty sharing space with students, women with religious/cultural convictions, and survivors of sexual assault who prefer a female-only space)

While the all-user locker room has not yet been designed, the design team is aware of the needs of individuals who are not comfortable sharing spaces with other genders. This is why the design will consider options that provide visual and acoustic privacy for these individuals to perform sensitive activities (e.g, changing, showering, toileting) in private.   It is also understood that different activities require different amounts of privacy (e.g., some may be ok washing hands next to someone of another gender, but others may not). As a result, the design team will consider options that allow individuals to conduct locker room activities with sufficient privacy.

Capacity

Capacity questions and answers

Question

Answer

If the all-user locker room is moving away from open changing areas and communal showers, will there be enough private changing stalls during busy times? (e.g, when 100 people need to change simultaneously?)

The design team is currently conducting “programming” activities with relevant HT West stakeholders to understand the number of users that the all-user locker room will have to accommodate at any single time, as well as the flow of users across a day. These numbers have also changed, now that the natatorium has been closed and new programs are entering the HT West area. The design team will consider options based on this information.

Project management

Project management questions and answers

Question	Answer
Previously, women had their restrooms converted to all-gender restrooms, whereas men did not. How can we prevent this from happening again, in the locker rooms?	In this case, both the men’s and women’s locker rooms will be renovated into a single all-user locker room.
I am disappointed that when I participated in past engagement opportunities at PCC, I did not receive any response to my concerns. How will PCC be considering public comments as it makes decisions regarding the all-user locker room?	We apologize that you did not receive a response to comments you made in the past.  This project is working to build the capacity needed to perform engagement activities that can be more interactive and iterative.   In regards to the all-user locker room, the design team is recording all public comments, which will be synthesized into a report and serve as the basis for design. This way, concerns and suggestions that have been made to date will be documented and can inform the project design. There will also be additional opportunities for PCC community members to provide feedback during design.
We currently face challenges keeping spaces clean – how will we ensure the all-user locker rooms can be kept clean? Has there been conversation with FMS and custodial staff, in regards to staffing?	Maintenance and hygiene are important factors to consider in the creation of the all-user locker room. FMS will be actively engaged in the design process and will inform the design of the new space.
For concerns regarding different user groups, can you survey them directly or research best practices, rather than relying on assumptions?	Yes. Design decisions concerning end-user needs are based on interviews, best practices, and evidence, rather than assumptions. This includes meetings with end-users, and referencing literature reviews, guidelines, and standards.   For the all-user locker room, there will be a number of opportunities for engagement. This will include surveys, interviews, and workshops with select PCC department heads, affinity group representatives, and more.
Who will be responsible for controlling the prohibition of nudity in common locker room areas?	It is the intent of the college to work collaboratively with the PE Facilities team and other stakeholders to develop a plan for educating users about the norms and rules of the space. This may include signage at the entrance and in the locker room, transparency and porosity between the locker room and outside, and ongoing communications explaining the new configuration among other strategies yet to be developed.
Has anyone on the PCC decision-making team used an all-user locker room, in particular locker rooms that are open to children?	Yes, and found it to be safe and convenient, especially for families.

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.