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May 4, 2026

OREGON: Renovation

Photo by Gabriel Hurley [enlarge]
The project carefully preserved historic elements while modernizing classrooms, laboratories and student spaces across 10 buildings.

Benson Polytechnic High School Modernization

Location: 546 N.E. 12th Ave., Portland

Contractor: The Harver Company

Architect: Bassetti Architects

Labor partners: International Union of Painters and Allied Trades; Laborers International Union of North America; Operative Plasterers’ & Cement Masons’ International Association; Western States Carpenters

This comprehensive $416 million campus renewal project in Northeast Portland blends historic preservation with contemporary, career-focused educational facilities. The project modernized and expanded a century-old campus, restoring five historic buildings while constructing five new structures to support advanced Career Technical Education (CTE) programs. The result is a state-of-the-art learning environment that honors Benson’s legacy while preparing students for high-demand trades and technologies.

The project is notable for its scale, complexity, and integration of old and new construction across ten buildings. Historic elements—including original wood trim, auditorium seating, gymnasium flooring, and ornamental architectural details — were carefully preserved and integrated alongside modern classrooms, laboratories, and student spaces. New facilities include expanded CTE wings, specialized labs for health sciences, automotive technology, digital media, and broadcasting, and modernized athletic and performance spaces. The campus was designed to achieve LEED Gold certification, incorporating energy-efficient systems, sustainable materials, and outdoor learning and gathering areas.

All 10 buildings were under construction simultaneously on an active, nine-acre campus, requiring intensive coordination and sequencing. Extensive seismic retrofitting was required across historic structures, along with complex framing, specialty ceilings, acoustic systems, and restored plaster assemblies. The Harver Company managed a large workforce, coordinated daily with MEP trades, and addressed late design changes, structural adjustments, and water damage repairs while maintaining progress toward a fixed occupancy date.

Through disciplined planning, skilled craftsmanship, and collaborative execution, the project team delivered a revitalized campus that serves as a national model for integrating historic preservation with modern educational infrastructure.


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