Subhead: BIPOC Students Co-Guided Design of New Learning Hub for STEM Fields
See link of selected photos here (Note to editor: credit photos with Skanska USA Building)
(Portland, OR- October 8, 2024) – Skanska, a leading global construction and development firm, announced the successful completion of the Vernier Science Center at Portland State University (PSU) in downtown Portland. Formerly known as Science Building One, the renovated six story, 89,500-SF building will serve as an inclusive hub for STEM study and applied education, featuring labs, classrooms, and spaces that support collaboration. Black, Indigenous, and students of color informed the design and development of this state-of-the-art facility.
“This project marks a pivotal moment for Portland as the region continues to establish itself as a hub for technology and innovation,” said Joe Schneider, Senior Vice President-Account Manager at Skanska. “The Vernier Science Center is set to become a cornerstone of STEM education with labs, classrooms, and collaborative spaces. We are proud to have worked on a project that will create future leaders in science, technology, engineering, and math, who will create a brighter and more diverse future for all of Portland.”
In partnership with Bora Architects, the design process engaged Black, Indigenous, and students of color to ensure the design supported students’ needs while celebrating their cultural backgrounds. Student recommendations informed elements such as layout, colors, and materials, to create a sense of pride and belonging. Student recommendations included the use of circular expressions to represent family, interconnectedness, and inclusiveness.
“Creating inclusive, collaborative spaces was a priority in our new building’s design,” said Todd Rosenstiel, Dean of Portland State University’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and professor of biology. “In building this transformative and Indigenous-focused space, we brought to life a place of science and discovery created by and for Portland State University’s diverse population.”
Skanska’s scope of work included a $62.8 million, three-phase project consisting of demolition of Stratford Hall, an enabling phase to relocate existing research and lab services into neighboring buildings, and finally the extensive renovation of Science Building One, which includes a community gathering room, a decolonized library, and a food/plant teaching kitchen. Construction was phased to allow for ongoing research throughout the duration of the project. The new structure boasts heavy reinforcement of shear walls to update its seismic readiness, stronger fire suppression construction, wet lab and food labs, shared access and equipment, as well as nature images that improve way finding.
Skanska’s Senior Superintendent on the project, Troy Boardman, noted, “Each of the four facing external facades has a unique theme including north toward the Columbia Gorge, east toward the Cascade Mountain Range, south toward the Willamette Valley and west toward the mountainous Coastal Range, which honors the Indigenous journeys to get here. Each design and construction considerations point to access in multi-disciplinary, collaborative spaces that promote engagement and co-creation.”
The new structure complements PSU’s growing campus while upholding the university’s sustainability goals. Key sustainability efforts include diverting more than 90 percent of construction waste; reusing the existing building to minimize embodied carbon; adding air quality monitoring systems; upgrading building energy systems; incorporating smart energy practices with efficient lighting and window glazing; installing smart LEDs and light controllability; and implementing low-emitting flooring, adhesives, manufactured wood, paint, and sealants alongside strategies to manage forestry woods while ensuring overarching efforts of materials’ management and reuse. The project is pursuing LEED Gold® certification. Skanska achieved 25.5% diverse contracting participation, using a blend of certified subcontractors and suppliers.
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For further information, contact: Dianne Danowski Smith, Publix Northwest PR + PA, dianne@publixnw.com, (503) 201-7019…….Daniela Arellano, Skanska USA Building, daniela.arellano@skanska.com, (213) 317-4977
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.