During the economic downturn coming out of 2008, construction jobs were few and far between. JE Dunn Construction competed for and won a job with a developer in Portland, Oregon. After the initial project fell through, the job was back out for competition, and in the spring of 2011, JE Dunn again won the project, called the Robertson Collaborative Life Sciences Building and Skourtes Tower.
For the size and complexity of the job, it was a very aggressive schedule, said Dustin Liljehorn, senior vice president and JE Dunn’s Rocky Mountain office lead. In fact, Liljehorn said the project was the biggest JE Dunn had completed west of Kansas City at the time. The 650,000-square-foot multi-use facility houses five stories of advanced biomedical research, as well as undergraduate science education, and medical and dental professional programs serving over 1,600 students annually.
One of the highlights of the building is five floors of collaborative research facilities, designed to accommodate a rotation of the nation’s premier cancer research scientists. The project also includes the Skourtes Tower, a 12-story above-grade structure housing the School of Dentistry clinical training, clinics, research spaces, and two levels of underground parking.
The greatest challenge, however, was that the building had to be constructed on top of an old shipwreck yard, which was contaminated and littered with relics from the past, including remnants of war weaponry like rocket-propelled grenades.
“We dug up parts of ships, cars, ammunitions, all sorts of things,” Liljehorn said.
Despite the challenges, Liljehorn and his team persevered, navigating through the complexities of the project and its one-of-a-kind site. One of the most remarkable feats was the creation of a highly sensitive microscope lab within the building. The primary challenge revolved around the need to mitigate vibrations to ensure the delicate equipment’s functionality. Mitigating vibrations at a site that was next to a large river, active light rail, and a major interstate was a significant challenge for the entire team. Through innovative engineering solutions, including the construction of a moat around the lab, they successfully accommodated the precise requirements.
“The moat idea was a new, untested concept but everyone believed that the moat concept would work,” Liljehorn said. “It’s been there 10 years now, and has been working just fine.”
The project was not just about constructing a building; it was about bringing together three universities with distinct cultures and disciplines. OHSU, Portland State University, and Oregon State University joined forces, creating a unique collaborative environment where graduate and undergraduate students work together seamlessly.
As the project progressed, it caught the attention of a global giant in the semiconductor industry. Impressed by the team’s capabilities showcased in the life sciences building, this major technology company entrusted them with a significant project, marking JE Dunn’s entry into the semiconductor world.
Amidst the technical challenges, the project site itself presented logistical hurdles. With the construction of a new bridge and a light rail system nearby, the space was constrained, requiring innovative solutions to accommodate the building’s requirements.
Throughout the project, Liljehorn and the JE Dunn team demonstrated adaptability, ingenuity, and unwavering dedication. From navigating through complex stakeholder dynamics to overcoming technical challenges, they turned obstacles into opportunities, setting a new standard for collaborative construction projects.