New Liberty High School Opens Doors in Hillsboro

Hillsboro - 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.

Port of Portland Sells Property for Tenant Expansion

Portland - The Port of Portland Commission recently agreed to sell a 2.82-acre property known as Warehouse 4, located at 2303 N.W. Front Ave., to Emerson Hardwood Company. Emerson, a hardwood lumber, plywood and flooring products wholesaler distributor, will use the property for future expansion of its warehousing and distribution operations.

Since Terminal 1 is no longer a working marine terminal, Warehouse 4 no longer serves a strategic purpose for the Port. It is, however, contiguous to Emerson Hardwood's headquarters and strategic to the company's plans to remain and grow in Portland.

In conjunction with the Warehouse 4 sale, the Port Commission also approved a request by the Columbia River Pensioners Memorial Association to buy a 0.3-acre paved section of the parcel for the International Longshore and Warehouse Union-Local 8. The Port gave the union a permit to use the area for parking in 1994, along with the first right of refusal to purchase the lot if the Port decided to sell the property.

Emerson Hardwood will pay the Port $2,115,460 for its portion of the Warehouse 4 parcel, assuming the Columbia River Pensioners Memorial Association purchases the parking lot section for the agreed-upon price of $125,320. The Port expects both transactions to close on or before April 1, unless extended by mutual agreement with the buyers.

Two Firms Merge With Newly Created Company

Oregon City - Advanced American Diving Service Inc. of Oregon City and the M. Cutter Company of Vancouver, Wash., recently formally reorganized and merged with the newly created parent company Advanced American Construction Inc., also of Oregon City.

The new company provides full-service general contractor services for heavy, civil and marine construction in and around the water throughout the western United States.