Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

PCC unveils new 82nd Avenue campus

Photos and story by James Hill

Grand opening of new Southeast CenterWhat: PCC will celebrate the opening of its new Southeast CenterWhen: 3:30-5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 27Where: Southeast 82nd Avenue and Division StreetWho: PCC Board Chair and southeast Portland resident Bob Palmer will serve as emcee.Details: Fireworks will kick off the new center, with a display sponsored by Western Display Fireworks. Bank of the West will also help sponsor the opening. Tours will be available and refreshments will be served. The public is invited. For more details, call 503-788-6230.Students returning from the holidays will have one more option for higher education with the opening of the new Southeast Center at Southeast 82nd Avenue and Division Street. PCC transformed a site that contained a vacant builders supply store and supermarket to create the new facility. Funds to build the new site came from a $144 million bond measure that voters approved in November of 2000 for college construction, repairs and upgrades to technology. The new facility opens Dec. 29 and winter term classes begin Jan. 5. The new location replaces the existing center, which is several blocks south. The new center will allow students to complete the first year of a college transfer degree at the site, not a sure thing at the old location. The courses will range from art, history and writing to math, business administration, economics and general science. Several of the classrooms hold brand new flat-screened computers. Students will also be able to study several professional-technical training programs -Computer Applications and Office Systems, Management and Supervisory Development, and Industrial Occupations (trades). The new center will house the college’s alternative high school program, Gateway to College. English as a second language will be offered, plus a variety of non-credit courses through the Community Education program.A special boon is the addition of expanded art offerings. The new center houses a dance studio, fitness center, ceramics and painting studios and a photography darkroom. The headquarters for PCC’s Extended Learning Campus, which offers a wide array of workforce training, adult basic education, personal interest and continuing education programs for PCC, will also be located at the new site. This winter, approximately 11,500 students will be able to take advantage of the added courses, about 1,500 more students than at the old site. Plans for the future include even more growth."To have a community focus with this center will benefit all of us," said Paul Ellison, president of the 82nd Avenue Business Association and branch manager of a Bank of the West nearby the center. "The education center will help attract students and improve the economic diversity in the area."Ellison said the site had deteriorated and been marked with graffiti. "It’s nice to have something of this caliber next door. PCC will be a good neighbor."The new complex is 94,000 square feet and is located on a 10.3-acre site. Workers extensively remodeled the builders supply store and used the foundation of the grocery store used for construction of the largest facility, Mt. Tabor. Bays cut out of the rectangular building bring in natural light in and add exterior courtyards. A great hall with an, atrium ceiling is banked by a wall of glass windows looking out to a circular plaza. A new 23, 000-square-foot was added to the site. The two-story Mt. Scott building overlooks 82nd Avenue with views of the butte in the distance. The two structures are connected by a covered walkway. The new center cost $26.3 million, which includes purchase of the land, construction, permits, furniture and equipment.Nan Poppe, president of PCC’s Extended Learning Campus, said the new building is a testament to community support for PCC. "In a year dominated by bad news about education in Oregon and funding, this center is a high note," she said. "We are excited to be able to bring more educational opportunity to an area of metropolitan Portland that has been under-served for too many years," she said.Sustainable Design Used in SEC Architect Nels Hall, who designed the center, said his firm Yost Grube Hall paid special attention to sustainable design, using existing resources when at all possible, including existing paving and dry wells, and incorporating natural lighting, natural systems for storm water control. In addition, building and site materials were recycled.Landscaping plays a key role in the sustainable design. Indigenous materials are used and specialized plantings facilitate the treatment of storm water treatment. The addition of trees across the site and at south facing facades provides natural shading to interior areas. The single-story building renovation retains the existing slab, steel structure and concrete walls. Existing water and fire sprinkler lines are re-used and the mechanical system decreases the amount of return air-duct work.Lighting design throughout the project applies both day lighting and direct and indirect fixtures to minimize energy consumption. Day lighting features include skylights and solar tubes to provide natural light to interior corridors and sun louvers to control glare and heat gain at major south facing window areas. Courtyards were created in the renovated building to maximize north and south day lighting to classrooms. Sustainable exterior materials include brick, concrete and concrete stucco. Interior materials include linoleum, a natural, petroleum-free product and carpet tiles to reduce installation waste and maximize recycled content with natural rubber flooring utilized for the fitness room.Baugh Skanska served as general contractor.