The Dalles Readiness Center - an armory, classrooms, and a community venue, all in one building
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02.2015
HOFFMAN BUILDS:
The Dalles Readiness Center – an armory,
classrooms, and a community venue, all
in one building
Delivered by the design-build Since the original armory was built OMD requested a building that
team of Hoffman Construction in 1953, the needs of the National fulfilled its military purpose and its
and TVA Architects, The Dalles Guard and The Dalles community historic role as a gathering place
Readiness Center replaces an have changed significantly. By for the public. James Willeford,
aging armory for the Oregon all standards – size, amenities, Chief of Military Construction for
Military Department (OMD) and energy efficiency – the new Oregon, says the facility meets this
and adds classrooms/program Readiness Center represents a goal by expanding potential uses
space for Columbia Gorge higher level of excellence. of the building.
Community College (CGCC).
The facility’s assembly hall is a
major community asset, while Owner: Oregon Military Department Design Team: TVA Construction Cost:
its energy usage is targeted $25,456,000 Square Footage: 62,689 Location: The Dalles, Oregon Completion
for net-zero. Date: February 2014 Contract Type: Design-Build, Guaranteed Maximum Price
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“I’m not hearing of anyone else doing
something of this substance with a
National Guard facility — it’s taken
some serious out-of-the-box thinking,”
Willeford says.
In total, the new Readiness Center is
62,689 SF, which includes the main
building, as well as a maintenance
shop and space for CGCC. The
three-story facility includes a 10,000
SF assembly hall, the only one of
its size in an Oregon armory. With
capacity for 1,000, the hall provides
ample room for soldiers to practice
maneuvers, and is also the largest
public space for miles around.
With the land for the Readiness
Center adjacent to and owned
by CGCC, a partnership between
OMD and the college grew out of
the design-build process. CGCC
and OMD worked together to move
some classrooms and labs out of a
basement and into the Readiness
Center’s light-filled first floor. This
eventually grew to include four
classrooms, two labs, and a high-bay
instructional space featuring a
machine shop and state-of-the-art
welding stations.
Even though the college got involved
late in the project, Hoffman was
able to deliver their vision without
significantly adding to the schedule.
The Readiness Center helps to
articulate the college’s desire to
promote sustainable technologies
while also exemplifying CGCC’s image
as a dynamic, modern, full-service
community college.
The design-build team decided to use polished
concrete for the floor in the Assembly Hall. It holds up
better to multiple uses – from food service to yoga to
military fitness training – and is easier to clean.
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A NEW LOOK FOR THE MODERN MILITARY
OMD wanted the look of the fireplace and abundant natural light Besides the facility’s impressive design
Readiness Center to reflect more fill the classroom level, which includes and usability, Arnold says that the best
than its military function. Outside, offices for instructors and small part about the place is its location.
the steel-and-concrete building has meeting rooms. One floor up is the There are more than 40 armories in
modern lines and full glass façade. Assembly Hall, which is lined by a Oregon, but Arnold says, “Nobody has
Inside, it feels like an art gallery, with wide terrace that runs the entire front a location like this.”
tall white walls and glass guard rails of the building. The Readiness Center takes advantage
on a prominent interior staircase. “The OMD is happy with this new facility,” of an overlook above the Columbia River
The facility also has a collegial says Dave Arnold, the facility manager, Gorge. The tall, sleek glass façade is
atmosphere. Students come and go who splits his time between The Dalles striking, and the views from the center’s
during the week from four classrooms and Hood River armories. “It’s met its deck are wide enough to display a curve
on the first floor, next to lounge areas goal and probably exceeded the goal in the Columbia River and white water
and a breakroom “café.” A gas as far as a venue for the community.” rushing through The Dalles Dam.
Interior staircase CGCC lounge area
The café breakroom Workout room
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The views from the upper stair deck
CGCC Electronics lab Classroom
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A military storage area, loading dock, and government
vehicles are located behind the building in a staging
and parking area for the 150 National Guardsmen and
women who use the center on training weekends.
BEAUTIFUL SITE, CHALLENGING ELEMENTS
Divided in half by an impressive level Hoffman used two water trucks BIM Efficiencies
change of over thirty feet, the site spans continuously, spraying the site to keep Efficiencies were realized by the early
two separate plateaus. Pam Saftler, dust contained and to be sensitive to use of the electronic plan table, a
Project Manager for TVA Architects, neighbors downhill. On a staggered Hoffman tool from the beginning of
says this presented cost challenges on schedule each day, Hoffman used a the project. All changes made by
a budget-conscious project. hydrant near the college campus as designers or through RFIs were filed
“To mitigate extensive grading costs, we a filling station, so at least one truck into the plans electronically. This
chose to use this inherent feature to would be spraying at all times, says improved efficiency and timeliness
organize the separate programmatic project engineer Tomasz Kaltur. of information distribution. Hoffman
elements of the military and the college “That was the worst of it. It got better and OMD’s onsite inspector brought
functions,” Saftler recalls. “It was with the fall and the winter,” he says. iPads into the field and used them to
OMD’s desire to encourage exposure reference drawings and details on the
The wind also created challenges with
and allow more interaction with the spot. Photos were sent to designers
structural concrete Peri formwork.
public. All major public spaces were and subcontractors immediately when
To provide better control, Hoffman
provided with panoramic views to the questions arose.
implemented a mandatory “double tag
river, mountains, and the city of The line,” positioning two people alongside BIM was utilized for mechanical piping,
Dalles, below.” the large forms as they were flown, HVAC duct, electrical, plumbing, data
The site presented Hoffman other one on each side. The few times wind and fire sprinkler on a structural/
challenges. The high winds in the conditions escalated, operations were architectural model background.
Columbia Gorge, which attract stopped to ensure worker safety.
para-sailing on The Dalles riverfront Hoffman’s concrete subsidiary,
during warmer months, caused Hoffman Structures Inc., beat the
headaches for construction crews. schedule on the structure by getting
Dust became a major issue once the a good jumpstart on the project. The
site was graded. For three months foundation and a 32-foot retaining wall
during the first summer of construction, came out of the ground without a hitch.
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PROJECT GOALS,
GREAT OUTCOMES
Beyond serving the needs of soldiers,
their families, and deployment
missions, OMD is using the facility as
a community resource and activities
center. Rooms in the back of the
building – locker rooms, a kitchen,
an overlook into the Assembly
Hall – are for use by many, not just
those who wear fatigues. Fixtures,
carpets, and finishes in muted grays
and tans are stylish and modern.
The only “olive drab” in the facility
is evident in a storage room, where
OMD personnel can lock their gear
between training weekends.
The Readiness Center has already
hosted a wide variety of recreational
and civic events, from wedding
receptions to high school graduations.
The deck alone is large enough to
host a party of up to 150. Recently,
a motorized model airplane guild
inquired about renting the assembly
hall to fly planes.
In the end, the college became nearly
The solar panels aren’t visible to the public from the parking lot. Same goes for the 88
geothermal wells underneath the lot that feed a heat pump. as active in the design-build process
as OMD. In partnership with the
community, the effort created one
Solar Array Contributes Design-Build Input at building that serves many needs. For
to Net-Zero All Levels example, the community college
Hoffman installed two solar arrays on The design-build process allowed hosted the Columbia Gorge Education
the low-pitched, asymmetrical roof. room for common sense input from the and Industry Summit, a first-ever
The site had no trees to speak of, an building’s users. Community members conference for educators and
advantage for solar energy collection. wanted a bigger assembly hall. They employers in Oregon and Washington.
The arrays, 50kW of panels as large got it. Per their request, it was outfitted
Columbia Gorge Community
as two ballroom dance floors, cover a with electrical outlets in the floor to
College president Dr. Frank Toda
significant expanse of the south-facing accommodate trade shows.
calls the project, “One of the most
roof and have plenty of room to grow. A lesson learned by Hoffman on complex endeavors we have ever
The feature goes hand-in-hand with another similar project informed the tried to accomplish,” adding that,
the renewable energy curriculum being type of floor to be installed in the hall. after years in the making, “This
taught downstairs by CGCC faculty. Rather than a rubberized basketball building is the community.”
court floor, the design-build team
decided to use polished concrete. It
holds up better to multiple uses – from
food service to yoga to military fitness
training – and is easier to clean.
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HOFFMAN BUILDS
Creative Solutions | Value | Relationships
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