Project Description
Nestled into a hillside site at Oregon’s oldest community college, the Science Building’s subtle, earth-toned exterior palette harmonizes with its surroundings. The two-story, 45,000-square-foot building features western red cedar ceiling panels mixed with Douglas-fir paneling, benches and casework to develop warmth in the spaces.
Wood was chosen as a predominant building material for its aesthetics, ease of construction and sustainability. The campus and the region have a strong tradition of building with wood, and the extensive use of wood in the center takes advantage of the deep reservoir of local experience. Moreover, the use of a renewable resource was a high priority for the project. The center used sustainably certified wood products and received a Gold rating from Earth Advantage’s Commercial Pilot Program.