Robert Gray Partners Begins Church Remodel, Expansion

Portland - The Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church recently selected Robert Gray Partners Inc. of Portland, Ore., to perform a $1.9 million, 12,000-sq.-ft. remodel and expansion of its facility.

The church, serving 600 families and more than 2,400 parishioners, found itself in need of additional, better designed space for its increasing programs, including a Greek folk dance group, meeting spaces, language classes, Sunday school, senior activities, marriage ceremonies and the annual Greek Festival.

Parishioners and visitors will experience a new courtyard plaza, increased parking, improved lighting, new landscaping and better pedestrian traffic flow. Additional space is being created for the library expansion and for a new cultural center that will display Greek history and artifacts, profile founders, and highlight the Greek presence and influence in the Portland community. The 50 year old facility, located at NE 31st and Glisan, was not originally designed to support the needs of the aging or physically challenged population. RGPI will upgrade the facility with ramps, ADA compliant restrooms, and elevators to make it more accessible to all.

The project will pose a few construction challenges. The work must be done with minimal impact to the multiple ongoing church programs, and in tight quarters. Work is expected to be completed by September; in time for the popular October Greek Festival, now in its 51st year.

DiLoreto and JE Dunn Exult Church Completion

Tualatin - A new 14,000-sq.-ft. worship center for the Church of the Resurrection Catholic Church was recently completed; designed by DiLoreto Architects and built by JE Dunn Construction-Northwest, both of Portland, Ore.

The $4 million facility is located on the church's existing 8.26-acre site at 20160 SW Stafford Road in Tualatin and is visible from Interstate 205. A north wall of soaring windows provides dramatic views and a flood of natural light balanced by light entering high windows to the south. The high wood ceiling starts at 25 ft. above the floor and rises up to 45 ft. The curved maple pews were purchased from Pennsylvania and a custom baptismal font is featured at the facility's entrance.

Construction of the building - which features symmetry and expansive height - required innovative solutions from the builder. Two concrete beams more than 80 ft. long and each weighing 100,000 lbs. had to be pre-cast on site and then hosted into place.

BBL Sees Completion of Several School Projects

Lake Oswego - Architects Barrentine.Bates.Lee, based here, recently completed the renovation and remodel to eight grade schools and one high school in Oregon. Construction is complete on all projects and the schools are fully operational for the 2002-2003 school year.

For the North Clackamas School District, design work was contracted for Alder Creek Middle School, Happy Valley Elementary, and Clackamas Elementary. The most extensive, Alder Creek, involved a $1.8 million conversion of the existing 120,000- sq.-ft. high school into a new middle school. The general contractor for Alder Creek was JVC Contractors, and Cascade Corporation provided construction services for Happy Valley and Clackamas.

For the Portland Public School District, Alameda Elementary and Vestal Elementary received miscellaneous interior improvements and safety renovations. The general contractor for these projects was Partech Construction.

Gresham High School, implementing the first phase of a master plan developed by BBL, undertook an extensive $7.6 million addition and remodel. Key features included a new multi-purpose gym and cafeteria/kitchen complex. P&C Construction served as the general contractor.

At Lebanon Community School District, the firm provided design services for a $7 million renovation to Seven Oak Middle School and a $4 million remodel to Hamilton Creek Elementary. Lease Crutcher Lewis was the construction manager/general contractor.