Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

PCC celebrates Jackson Hall's new wing

Photos and story by James Hill

CASCADE CAMPUS – Portland Community College celebrated the opening of its new addition to the Jackson Hall science building at the Cascade Campus on Wednesday, Oct. 29.The event featured tours of the new facility and a special ceremony that included remarks from Larry Clausen (division dean of Medical Technology and Science Division), Jerry Berger (PCC district president), Harold Williams (PCC board member), Mildred Ollee (former Cascade executive dean and current president of Seattle Central Community College), Nan Poppe (Cascade Campus interim president and Extended Learning Campus president), Joan Hayward (retired division dean of Medical Technology and Science Division) and John Blumthal from Yost Grube Hall Architecture.Jackson Hall first opened its doors to students fall term of 1985, with a building dedication, also held in October. The PCC Board of Directors named the two-story structure after the late Rev. John H. Jackson, who was pastor of Mount Olivet Baptist Church in northeast Portland, a board director of the Albina Ministerial Alliance, and one who made a significant commitment to the African-American community, especially to youth."Reverend Jackson believed that without faith work was empty and you may have all the faith in the world but without work you are also empty. This building is proof of work and faith,"Williams said. "(Rev. Jackson) was active at all times and made sure all cultures within this community were speaking to one another. If you didn’t meet this powerful man, you missed quite a treat. This building adds to the legacy of the creative work he was known for."Ollee discussed the teamwork that resulted in the building. "Today is a wonderful testament that you can’t fulfill a dream without hard work,"Ollee said. "With many ingredients you can make a wonderful dish and this is it."The $6.2 million addition and remodel of Jackson Hall adds approximately 17,500 square feet of space and contains six new science laboratories, for a total of eight. It also contains four new classrooms, for a total of six. "The opening of the new facilities in Jackson Hall is the first step of a significant commitment to the north and northeast Portland community to give residents greater educational opportunities,"said Berger. Voters approved a $144 million bond measure for PCC in November of 2000, with $57 million committed to PCC’s urban Cascade Campus. The campus eventually will add four new buildings and will be more than one-third larger than its current size. The design team includes Yost Grube Hall Architecture and Walsh Construction as the construction manager and general contractor. The project incorporated 20 percent minority, women and emerging small business sub-contractors during the construction."We here at Cascade are so excited that we can hardly contain ourselves,"Poppe exclaimed. "Many people worked hard to make this happen. Staff and faculty all came together to make this a reality."Top Photo: Mildred Ollee (former Cascade Campus executive dean and current president of Seattle Central Community College) and Harold Williams (PCC board member) cut the ceremonial ribbon at the Jackson Hall opening on Oct. 29. In the center are Joan Hayward (retired division dean of Medical Technology and Science), Jerry Berger (PCC interim district president), and John Blumthal (far left) from Yost Grube Hall architects.Bottom Photo: Harold Williams (PCC board member) along with Evie Crowell (retired Portland State University librarian) and Mildred Ollee (the former Cascade Campus executive dean) show off a tribute photo montage of Reverend John H. Jackson.