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Cleveland High School Breaks Ground on Modernization

  • By Matt Jones
  • 06/23/26

Key Takeaways

  • Portland Public Schools has begun a major modernization of Cleveland High School, replacing the existing campus with a new 300,000-square-foot facility scheduled for completion in summer 2029.
  • The new four-story, two-wing campus will feature upgraded academic, arts, athletic, and community spaces, including theaters, a student health center, and flexible after-hours access to key facilities.
  • Designed with sustainability in mind, the project will incorporate nearly 870,000 board feet of Pacific Northwest mass timber and other low-carbon building materials while students and staff temporarily relocate to Marshall High School during construction.

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. The district partnered with Skanska USA for construction services on the project, which has an estimated completion date of summer 2029.

The campus will consist of two wings, four stories each, connected by a skybridge. The north wing will play home to classrooms and labs, and the south wing to community-use, events, and performing-arts spaces, the news release reports. Specific amenities will include a new main entrance, a student health center, a performing arts theater, a black box theater, studios for dance and wrestling, and separate after-hours access for spaces like the theater and gymnasiums.

“For years, the Cleveland community has envisioned a campus that matches the talent, energy and aspirations of its students,” said Dr. Jon Franco, Portland Public Schools’ Senior Chief of Operations. “We are excited to see that vision become a reality and to provide future generations of students with spaces that support learning, creativity and connection.”

Students and staff will relocate to Marshall High School during construction.

The district also partnered with Mahlum Architects and Studio Petretti for the project’s design. Sustainability initiatives include the use of almost 870,000 board feet of mass timber from the Pacific Northwest. It will also make use of Acoustic Dowel Laminated Timber (ADLT) decking, structural steel, low-carbon concrete, and glulam beams and columns, according to the news release.

“Skanska is proud to partner with Portland Public Schools on a project that will serve future generations,” said Trevor Wyckoff, Executive Vice President and General Manager for Skanska USA Building in Oregon and Southwest Washington. “This project brings together innovative design, high-performance building strategies and flexible learning environments to create a campus that supports student success while serving as a valuable community resource for decades to come.”

About the Author

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

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