Demand for healthcare, education and sustainable construction projects continues driving growth in the mass timber sector across the Pacific Northwest. Skanska has begun work on the University of Oregon’s Ballmer Institute for Children’s Behavioral Health, a project that combines behavioral health workforce development with large-scale mass timber construction.
The development will create a new hub for education, research and clinical collaboration on the university’s northeast Portland campus while expanding Skanska’s healthcare and institutional construction portfolio in the region.
The two-story facility will total approximately 54,000 square feet and will house the Ballmer Institute for Children’s Behavioral Health along with the university’s Prevention Science Institute research center.
Designed by ZGF Architects, the building will use roughly 18,200 cubic feet of cross-laminated timber and 12,500 cubic feet of glulam as part of an all-mass-timber superstructure supported by concrete foundations.
Project plans include classrooms, office space, clinical and collaborative areas, along with a two-story student hub featuring exposed timber construction and a pedestrian bridge connecting key portions of the building. The facility will also include flexible classroom space separated by an operable partition system to accommodate larger events and lectures.
Skanska said the company will self-perform erection and installation of the timber structure as part of the delivery program.
Construction activities include demolition of existing campus buildings, utility relocations and broader site improvements tied to the university’s long-term campus development plans.
Early-stage work includes relocation of combined sewer infrastructure and fiber systems to prepare the site for vertical construction. The project also includes construction of an 18-space parking area dedicated to the facility.
Stormwater management systems utilizing drywells are planned as part of the site design, and tree protection measures have been incorporated to preserve mature landscaping throughout the construction process.
The facility is targeting LEED Gold certification as part of the university’s sustainability objectives.
The project adds to growing use of mass timber systems in healthcare and institutional construction as owners pursue lower-carbon building strategies and biophilic design approaches.
For contractors and developers, the project highlights continued investment in specialized timber construction capabilities, including prefabricated structural systems, timber erection expertise and integrated mechanical coordination. The development also reflects ongoing demand for behavioral health and workforce training facilities tied to healthcare infrastructure expansion across the United States.
Source: Skanska.
