2021 Year in Review – Week 1
11/30/2021
We’re near the end of 2021, and it’s time to look back at what our construction teams have accomplished this year. We have completed work in a variety of market sectors, including education, industrial, high-tech, tenant improvements, emergency repairs, and more.
Today we’re looking back at a few of our education projects. As we’ve discussed in previous articles, special care goes into education projects to ensure the safety of students and staff, quality of materials and respect for public funding. Our teams are proud to have delivered each of these buildings, whether new or renovated, for our local communities.
Marrion Elementary School
Completed in July, this brand new, 60,000 SF ground-up elementary school was a new prototype for the Evergreen School District and includes both one and two-story structures. The new building replaced the former Marrion Elementary School on the same site. Included in the construction is an open-to-structure commons, media center, gymnasium, outdoor play area, basketball court and access-controlled main entrance.
Built to be an open-concept school, Marrion Elementary provides its students and faculty with features such as movable partition walls between classrooms instead of hard-walls, radiant floor heating in the kindergarten rooms as well as extensive sound-absorbing materials throughout.
Perlo’s crews self-performed a variety of elements, including:
- Concrete
- Wood-framing
- Doors, frames and hardware
- Miscellaneous accessories
In addition to structural wood framing, our crews also utilized cross-laminated plywood to construct a beautiful and functional ‘Learning Stair’ in the lobby for impromptu learning opportunities. During preconstruction, the project team completed BIM coordination with the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection trades to identify any conflicts with the building structure and resolve them. This process helped streamline construction and prevent delays during onsite construction.
Of the team, Senior Project Manager Drew Carter says,
“George, Nick, Matt and the Perlo foremen did a really great job of completing a fast-tracked project in spite of tough environmental conditions and built it on-schedule, with a high-quality delivery and significant attention to detail. There was a willingness on everyone’s part to roll-up their sleeves, jump in and solve problems and now it’s one of the district’s nicest buildings.”
Perlo Team
Drew Carter | Senior Project Manager
Matt Miller | Project Engineer
George Trice | Superintendent
Derek Diaz | Superintendent
Nick Butler | Superintendent
Darrell March | Superintendent
Cy Whitmore | Foreman
McKayla Marshall | APM
Evelyn Moran | Admin Assistant
W. Verne McKinney Elementary School
This elementary school renovation and expansion in Hillsboro, Oregon included a new gymnasium addition, seismic upgrades, ADA improvements, and upgrading and replacing finishes and systems throughout the school campus. The project schedule was split into two categories: the gymnasium addition, and the interior renovation work. Starting in October of 2020, the team began the gymnasium addition. Simultaneously, they completed exploratory demolition work to confirm the work scope required for the existing building renovations. At that time, most students were still engaged in distance learning, though staff was occupying the space.
The exploratory demolition uncovered additional work scopes, which led District decision makers and our teams to begin off-hours construction work on the existing school for the remainder the year. This early work allowed the project teams to add significant length to the front side of the project schedule without delaying the final completion date of August 2021.
The Perlo work crews self-performed the following scopes:
- Demolition
- Miscellaneous accessories installation, including tack boards, white boards, and corner guards
- Doors/frames/hardware installation
- Dryrot repairs
- Seismic upgrades
The project was located in a residential area, so our teams spent time ensuring the neighbors were minimally impacted by our work. These efforts include minimizing noise during off-hours, routing traffic appropriately, and keeping dust contained.
Of the project, Superintendent John Tompkins says
“I always enjoy giving back to communities. That’s the reason I like working on school projects. This community, in particular, seemed extremely grateful that we were there. There was also a good connection between the principal and our construction team. They can lean on us and we’re always there to help.”
Perlo Team
Stephen Alger | Project Manager
John Tompkins | Superintendent
Graig Marshall | Foreman
McKayla Marshall | APM
Knight Elementary School Renovations
This approximately 60,000 SF renovation of an existing elementary school In Canby, Oregon included re-roofing, new mechanical units, lighting and finish upgrades throughout. In addition, work included upgrading the front entry vestibule to improve access and security. All construction work was completed during the summer of 2021 while school was out, requiring up-front planning to ensure the full scope could be completed on time.
The largest scope item included the re-roofing and mechanical work. With three distinct roofing types, including SBS built-up roofing, asphalt shingles and a PVC membrane at the barrel structure on the gymnasium. Two separate roofing subcontractors were procured to complete this work, with assistance on structural framing, dry rot repairs and seismic strapping from Perlo crews.
Perlo teams self-performed the following scopes:
- Selective demolition
- Wood framing
- Doors/frames/hardware installation
- Toilet accessories removal and replacement installation
- Seismic bracing and framing
- Miscellaneous steel installation
Project manager Adam Smelley said,
“I always enjoy giving back to communities. That’s the reason I like working on school projects. As with any re-roof on an older building, we found some surprises. When we removed the existing standing seam roof, for instance, it had a layer of old shingle roofing underneath. We expected some dryrot, but not an added layer of roofing materials. But on buildings that old, you never know what you might find.”
Our project teams wholeheartedly enjoyed working with the District teams. Superintendent Kyncade Hardy stated that “The whole district was great to work with. They were quick to respond and made smart decisions, and were just good, common-sense people to work with. I would absolutely work with them again.”
Perlo Team
Adam Smelley | Project Manager
Kyncade Hardy | Superintendent
Nathan Wright | Foreman
Crystal Bentley | APM
Concordia University Nursing School
This higher education project included a new and improved learning environment for a local nursing school with an 18,000 square foot expansion to their original 6,000sf space. The project included many modifications to better fit the school’s needs. Construction was completed while the space was occupied, so our work was phased to accommodate the students and staff in the area. With work beginning in November of 2020, our teams were faced with the added challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic presented. Most of the building inspections and project meetings were held via remote platforms such as Zoom and Teams. Additionally, the ownership teams are not local to our area, and we met them in person only a few times over the course of construction.
To modify and maximize the space, previously under-utilized areas were transformed into open study areas, private testing rooms, a clinical skills lab and simulation rooms. In the simulation rooms, future healthcare workers practice their craft under the close watch of instructors in nearby viewing rooms.
As virtual learning was a key need for Concordia, the space was also outfitted to allow for online learning. Work on the Concordia Nursing School project was completed on time in April of 2021.
Superintendent Kory Stark noted that,
“The onsite crews and subcontractors were really excited about building the nursing stations, as the materials were top-of-the-line, and a lot of detail went into the training rooms to accommodate the headwalls. It was like we were building out actual hospital rooms, and that takes a lot of coordination and precision to do correctly.”
Perlo Team
Erich Schmidt | Project Manager
Kory Stark | Superintendent
Crystal Bentley | APM
BASE CTE Renovation
This project included relocating and updating existing classrooms, shop spaces and science labs within an existing building in Beaverton, Oregon. BASE CTE is the Beaverton Academy of Science and Engineering (BASE) Career and Technical Education (CTE) program, which: “engage every student in high-quality, rigorous, and relevant classes, designed to help students turn their passions into paychecks and their dreams into careers. CTE programs partner with local businesses and industry to create opportunities that promote creativity, innovation, and leadership, which are relevant to the job markets of today.”
The project consisted of the reconfiguration of an existing school to better suit their classroom size and teaching needs. Spaces included a large chemistry lab, wood shop, and added classrooms, as well as relocating their engineering and maker space, bio-lab and installation of new computer labs, and motion lab equipment. The wood shop included a complete dust collection system, and the team also installed a small cabinet-style paint booth. New HVAC systems and LED lighting were also installed in the renovated spaces.
The schedule for construction was extremely tight, with a completion date that was dictated by the grant funding for the work. Preliminary site investigations began during Spring Break, with some minor work completed during the night shift between Spring and Summer Break.
Perlo teams self-performed the following scopes:
- Concrete pour-back
- Equipment, tool and furniture relocation and installation
Project manager Stephen Alger noted that,
“the engineering teacher who was receiving the new wood shop was ecstatic to be able to show his students the mechanical side of the classroom, including the dust collection system, air compressors, and CNC machine. Though he talked of retirement, he said he was going to keep working for several more years because the new space is so amazing. I really enjoyed seeing the staff so excited for the space.”
Project team members embraced the challenge of verifying that all stakeholders had input on the room and equipment layouts. With anchorage required for many pieces, these details needed to be thought out and dialed in early in the planning process.
The project was completed on time in August of 2021, meeting the deadline for the grant funding and completing in time for students to utilize the space for the 2021-2022 school year.
Perlo Team
Stephen Alger | Project Manager
Steve Dusenberry | Superintendent
Kathy Ohannessian | APM
Final Thoughts
Perlo has been pleased to be involved with so many public projects this year. The ability to contribute to our communities through our schools is rewarding for us and our teams. Stay tuned for next week, when we look back at more of our completed in 2021 projects!