Oregon District Selects Builder for Multiple Renovation Projects

The David Douglas School District in Portland, Ore., recently selected Balfour Beatty company Howard S. Wright to deliver $15.7 million in renovations and repairs across multiple schools and facilities, according to a news release. The district also partnered with BBL Architects for the projects’ designs.

The projects are scheduled for West Powellhurst Elementary, Floyd Light Middle, and South Powellhurst. Project features include HVAC upgrades, fire alarm replacement, electrical and generator updates, a new security vestibule, and remodeling specialty areas. The contract marks Howard S. Wright’s first expansion into the K–12 education sector. Its previous experience includes higher education projects for the University of Oregon, as well as private and government work.

“We are excited to diversify Howard S. Wright’s project portfolio with the award to deliver K-12 renovations in the Portland area,” said Howard S. Wright senior vice president Ryan McGrew. “Our project team looks forward to leveraging its renovation expertise to provide essential upgrades to David Douglas District schools and enhance the learning environment for students and faculty.”

Construction is scheduled to begin in June 2025 and finish in September 2025, the news release reports.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • University of Illinois Moves Forward with College Sports’ Largest Digital Scoreboard

    The University of Illinois in Champaign, Ill., recently announced a series of upgrades to Gies Memorial Stadium that will include the largest scoreboard in college sports, according to a news release.

  • Stanford Completes Construction on Graduate School of Education Facility

    Stanford University in Stanford, Calif., recently announced the end of construction on a new home for its Graduate School of Education, according to a news release. The university partnered with McCarthy Building Companies on the 160,000-square-foot project, which involved two major renovations and one new construction effort.

  • California School District Completes Elementary School Modernization

    The San Diego Unified School District in San Diego, Calif., recently held a ribbon-cutting for a whole-site modernization of Pacific Beach Elementary School, according to local news. The school first opened with one building in 1930 and added six more between 1938 and 1957.

  • How a Portable Sink Helped an Art Classroom Run More Smoothly

    Classroom design decisions can have outsized effects on instructional time and safety at schools juggling mismatched infrastructure, strict budgets, and crowded schedules — particularly in the arts. Between spilled paint and dirty brushes, art classes run smoother with a sink in the studio. But many schools don’t have a sink in every art classroom.