Behavioral health infrastructure and mass timber construction continue to converge in institutional development projects as universities and public-sector owners pursue sustainable facilities designed to support workforce expansion and research initiatives.
Skanska has broken ground on the University of Oregon’s Ballmer Institute for Children’s Behavioral Health, a two-story academic and research facility planned for the university’s northeast Portland campus. The project combines mass timber construction with behavioral health education and research space intended to support statewide workforce development efforts.
The 54,000-square-foot facility will utilize an all-mass-timber superstructure supported by concrete foundations. Project specifications include approximately 18,200 cubic feet of cross-laminated timber and 12,500 cubic feet of glulam components.
The structure will incorporate CLT floor and roof decks, glulam beams and columns, a timber stair system, a CLT elevator shaft and a pedestrian bridge connecting portions of the building. Skanska will self-perform installation and erection of the timber system.
ZGF Architects designed the facility, which is targeting LEED Gold certification as part of the university’s sustainability objectives.
Construction activities also include demolition of existing campus buildings, utility relocations, site upgrades and installation of an 18-space parking area. Early-phase work includes relocation of sewer and fiber infrastructure to prepare the site for vertical construction.
The facility will house the Ballmer Institute and the Prevention Science Institute, bringing together classrooms, office space, research areas and collaborative learning environments within a single academic complex.
Planned features include two large classrooms separated by an operable partition system that allows the rooms to function as a combined event space. The building will also feature a two-story student hub designed with exposed timber and natural lighting elements.
University officials said the project is intended to support education, research and community partnership programs focused on expanding Oregon’s behavioral health workforce and improving access to care for children and families.
Mass timber construction continues gaining traction across higher education and healthcare markets, particularly in the Pacific Northwest where regional supply chains and sustainability initiatives support broader adoption of engineered wood systems.
Institutional owners are increasingly evaluating mass timber for projects tied to wellness, sustainability and occupant experience objectives. The use of exposed timber elements and biophilic design strategies has also become more common in education and healthcare-adjacent facilities.
Skanska has delivered several large-scale timber projects in the region, including transportation, healthcare and educational developments.
For construction owners, developers and contractors, the University of Oregon project highlights continued growth in complex mass timber institutional work tied to sustainability and public-sector investment goals.
The project also reflects increasing demand for facilities supporting behavioral health education and workforce development as universities and public agencies respond to long-term healthcare staffing needs and expanded community care initiatives.
Source: Skanska.
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