Art Rutkin Elementary School

Location: Tigard

Cost: $41 million

Completion: June 2023

Owner/Developer: Tigard-Tualatin School District

Architect: Bora Architecture & Interiors

Engineer: Catena Consulting Engineers

General Contractor: P&C Construction

Submitting Company: P&C Construction

Subcontractors: Architectural Specialties, Baker Rock Resources, Building Material Specialties, Cascade Acoustics, Cedar Landscape Construction, Cherry City Electric, Coffman Excavation, Consurco, Cosco Fire Protection, Curtis Restaurant Equipment, DeaMor Associates, Delta A/V Systems, Eagle Striping Services, Elmer’s Flag & Banner, Empire Painting, Fieldturf, Howser Steel, Hydro-Temp Mechanical, IES Commercial, Interior Technology, Interstate Sheet Metal, Isley Welding Service, KPFF, Kraft Masonry, Landscape Forms, Merit Contractor, Metro Access Control, Michael’s Precast, Mid-Valley Commercial Construction, Northwest Engineering, Northwest Recreation of Oregon, Oregon City Garage Door, Oregon Truss, Portland Electrical Construction, Roedel Tile, Salem Wood Products, Sawtooth Caulking, Soriano Floor Finishing, South Town Glass, Spectra Contract Flooring, Stoner Electric, TerraCalc Land Surveying, ThyssenKrupp Elevator, Town & Country Fence, Ultra Quiet Floors, Van Lom Concrete, Wallace Steel, Wood Mechanix

The new Art Rutkin Elementary School is the district’s first new school in almost two decades and will serve 650 students.

The 80,000-square-foot school’s design was meticulously planned to weave into the natural landscape and pays homage to longtime educator Art Rutkin, who died in 2010. Two parallel bars/wings, linked by a spacious commons area, step up the hillside. The school is essentially three stories built along an 80-foot grade under a single roof.

The structure was crafted using fully sustainable, structural-grade lumber, graded on-site by P&C to ensure the best outcome. The gymnasium and commons space boast majestic Douglas fir beams, sourced early to avoid pandemic-related cost escalations. Green metal siding and naturally exposed cedar accents merge the building with its environment, while custom millwork and a state-of-the-art theater add layers of functionality and beauty.

The heart of the school beats with green energy, thanks to a 550 kW solar array with video monitors and software to show students and staff how much energy is being collected. Energy-efficient fiberglass windows, HVAC with four-pipe fan coils and heat recovery ventilators, LED lighting and eight electric vehicle charging stations, including stations for the district’s two electric buses, further underscore the commitment to sustainability.

P&C Construction worked closely with Clean Water Services to mitigate the project’s impact on the overall environment and everything downstream from the project site. The school is pursuing a Net Zero rating.

Worker safety was paramount on the project, with programs such as Look & Lead, Electronic Safety Support and a dedicated Safety Advisory Council ensuring a secure work environment. Bilingual training and signage were implemented to accommodate the diverse workforce, ensuring clear communication of safety protocols.

P&C Construction worked with the National Association of Minority Contractors-Oregon to achieve a 31.8 percent participation from COBID-certified contractors on the project.

The contractor also worked closely with the school district, the school’s namesake family and the community to integrate landscaping and plants specifically chosen for the project. This required careful coordination between team members to ensure donated plants were placed in and around other plants throughout the multi-acre site.

Rutkin’s remains are buried underneath a tree onsite.

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