PRESS RELEASE - May 15, 2024
Subhead: Construction Begins at Beaverton High School With 1994 Graduate Heading The Team - Skanska to Rebuild Largest School Project Within 2022 Bond
New structure will improve learning through gathering, study, and flex spaces (See rendering attached)
Skanska, a leading global development and construction firm, has broken ground to rebuild the historic Beaverton High School, at 13000 S.W. 2nd Avenue.
The new Beaverton High School will comprise a 300,500-square-foot, three-story building surrounding a 15,500-square-foot, enclosed courtyard. Construction work includes a new academic and gymnasium building as well as new student and staff parking lots, athletic field structures and landscaping, with an opening date of fall, 2026. With just over $211 million in budgeted funds for construction and building materials, the new high school and campus will be the largest project within the Beaverton School District #48J’s 2022 bond.
The new building will include pre-fabricated exterior walls built offsite and transported for installation; solar panels, skylights and large windows to reduce the school’s dependence on electricity while providing ample natural light.
As the oldest high school in the city, Beaverton High is also believed to be the oldest in-use public high school in the state of Oregon in its original location and building. The original structure, which has been modified and added onto over many years, dates back to 1916.
“We look forward to having a modernized campus that meets students’ needs and functions as community evacuation center in case of a disaster,” said Andrew Kearl , Principal at Beaverton High School. “Skanska is well positioned to ensure student safety during construction, while supporting our efforts to provide a positive learning environment throughout the construction process.”
“As a Beaverton High graduate, I’m honored to rebuild this school to better serve the existing and future student body,” said Trevor Wyckoff, Skanska account manager and senior vice president who is overseeing the project (Class of 1994). “I have confidence in Skanska’s ability to deliver a school that improves the student experience and exceeds the expectations of the community. I hope our work will inspire students to go into construction, we could use more BHS grads to impact our industry. I look forward to celebrating alongside students, teachers, administrators, and neighbors when we complete this project.”
The school’s current, standalone cafeteria building will remain, with a new covered walkway connecting it to the new academic and gymnasium building. The new academic spaces will also entail new shop space for instruction to support the school’s emerging career technical education curriculum.
The new construction plan also includes a modernized performing arts area and athletic field improvements. The new theater will have modern features, including cedar wood to improve acoustics and bring in elements from the existing theater into the new space. “Skanska built the popular Patricia Reser Center for the Arts just a few blocks away, so we are excited to bring this important and recent expertise to Beaverton High’s arts community,” added Wyckoff.
Enhancements to the athletic fields on the south and west parts of Beaverton High’s campus will include re-turfing, adding four tennis courts and constructing a new field house adjacent to the baseball diamonds.
After students and staff move into the new academic center, the current school will be demolished to make way for increased parking access and to alleviate congestion and overflow into surrounding neighborhoods.
The project’s live construction camera can be found at https://view.ceros.com/skanska/beaverton-high-school/p/4.
Contact
- Daniela Arellano, Communications Director, daniela.arellano@skanska.com; (213) 317-4977
- Dianne Danowski Smith, Publix Northwest, dianne@publixnw.com; (503) 201-7019
About Skanska
Skanska uses knowledge and foresight to shape the way people live, work, and connect. More than 135 years in the making, we’re one of the world’s largest development and construction companies. We operate in select markets throughout the Nordics, Europe and the United States. Skanska in the U.S. is headquartered in New York City with 28 offices around the country. In 2023, construction in the U.S. generated $7.1 billion in revenue, and as a developer in the U.S., Skanska has invested a total value of $4.6 billion in commercial and multi-family projects. Together with our customers and the collective expertise of our 6,500 teammates in the U.S. and 27,000 globally, we create innovative and sustainable solutions that support healthy living beyond our lifetime.