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

  • Homewood-Flossmoor High School NetZero Addition

    Homewood-Flossmoor High School NetZero Addition

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. The Homewood-Flossmoor High School NetZero Addition has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Project of Distinction award in the category of New Construction.

  • Agricultural Sciences Complex

    Agricultural Sciences Complex

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. The College of Western Idaho's Agricultural Sciences Complex has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Grand Prize award in the category of New Construction.

  • Myrtle Grove Elementary

    Phased Construction Keeps Students on Campus During Rebuild

    When Escambia County School District needed to replace most of Myrtle Grove Elementary School in Pensacola, Fla., it had three distinct challenges: honor the school's legacy in the community, bring state-of-the-art learning environments to the county, and be seamlessly built on the same site as the active school campus.

  • Cleveland High School Breaks Ground on Modernization

    Portland Public Schools in Portland, Ore., recently announced that construction has begun on a modernization project for Cleveland High School, according to a news release. The existing building will be replaced with a new, 300,000-square-foot facility at the same site.