Seattle - Express Construction Company recently completed major tenant improvements to Union, a new restaurant located in the Poll Building at the corner of First Avenue and Union Street.

Working under a strict budget and on a tight five-week timeline to meet a scheduled opening, Express renovated the 4,069-sq.-ft. space into the modern, new downtown restaurant. The space features radius walls, hardwood flooring, custom-designed casework with glass-lighted tops and other high-quality accents.

Tom Bennett, project manager, and Chris Hashbarger, superintendent, led the project for Express, and Henry Walters with Walker Architecture provided design services. Other project team members included David McCauley Floors, Generation Glass, Northwest Woodworks, and Wizard Electric.

New Liberty High School Opens Doors in Hillsboro

Hillsboro, Ore. - Designed by Portland's Mahlum Architects, the $49.3 million Liberty High School in the Hillsboro School District recently opened its doors.

The school was inspired by a philosophy that students learn best in small environments. The school serves 850 students enrolled in four career academies. The design of the building fosters interactions between students, faculty and the community.

The structure features a two-and-a-half story tall rotunda at the main entrance, which is adjacent to the fan-shaped administration wing on the ground floor and the library on the second floor. The rotunda visibly invites visitors to the two main wings of the 292,000-sq.-ft. school containing the academies, commons, gymnasium and theater. Floor-to-ceiling windows at each end of each corridor fulfill the attempt to get natural light into every teaching space and passageway.

The school's gymnasium has a seating capacity for 3,500 people and a second-level running track that encircles all four sides of the gym. Outside a covered grandstand will overlook a synthetic turf football field used for soccer. The school also has six tennis courts, two baseball fields, two softball fields and two soccer fields.

A two-story tall commons links the gym and the 536-seat theater.

The school's general contractor was Robinson Construction Co. of Hillsboro, and the project manager was Cornerstone Construction Management Inc. of Portland.