Department of Human Services- Gresham Well Underway

The Department of Human Services (DHS) building in Gresham, Oregon is well underway. This three-story building located on the corner of South East Stark St. and South East 223rd Ave is starting to resemble a full structure. With the project over halfway complete, the building’s three stories and shape are now visible.

Keeping this project on schedule amidst a pandemic has been no small success. Diligent procedure and policy planning on the part of the General Contractor - Pence Construction - has allowed the project to move along at a regular pace, regardless of the challenging circumstances. On top of the already high standard for safety, the company has ensured proper cleaning, masks, and social distancing to ensure the safety of its employees and subcontractors.

Rubicon Executive Vice President Justin Hurley said “We are very impressed with Pence’s commitment to adhering to the State guidelines.” When last visiting the site Justin also noted “the building is coming along as expected, and the articulation the design team at TVA architects envisioned is becoming more visible and dynamic with the progress.”

The facility is designed to reach U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED certification. As of the end of March the project had been awarded all 28 points it applied for towards certification for the first phase of submission. This puts the project on a great track to meeting the LEED requirements. It is uncommon for a project to be awarded 100% of the points in early submission and Rubicon is grateful to the team at Brightworks Sustainability, TVA Architects and Pence Construction for keeping the sustainability goals on track.

Work will continue on this project throughout the summer and is expected to open its doors to the State of Oregon Department of Human Services tenant employees at the end of 2021.