Skanska breaks ground on Cleveland High School modernization, a landmark mass timber project

PORTLAND, OR – Skanska, a leading global construction and development firm, broke ground on the modernization of Cleveland High School for Portland Public Schools on June 12. The project will replace the existing school with an approximately 300,000-square-foot high school on the same Southeast Portland site, along with upgrades to the athletics stadium and Powell Park fields.

Construction is expected to begin in July 2026 and be completed in the summer of 2029. During construction, Cleveland High School students and staff will temporarily relocate to Marshall High School.

“Skanska is proud to partner with Portland Public Schools on a project that will serve future generations,” said Trevor Wyckoff, Executive Vice President and General Manager for Skanska USA Building in Oregon and Southwest Washington. “This project brings together innovative design, high-performance building strategies and flexible learning environments to create a campus that supports student success while serving as a valuable community resource for decades to come.”

Designed to support learning, arts and community

Once complete, the new Cleveland High School will provide students with flexible spaces for learning, creativity, wellness and community engagement.

“For years, the Cleveland community has envisioned a campus that matches the talent, energy and aspirations of its students,” said Dr. Jon Franco, Senior Chief of Operations, Portland Public Schools. “We are excited to see that vision become a reality and to provide future generations of students with spaces that support learning, creativity and connection.”

The campus will feature two four-story wings connected by a skybridge. The north wing will house classrooms and labs, while the south wing will support performing arts, events and community-use spaces. A secure outdoor courtyard will provide students with space for gathering, outdoor learning and recreation. Specifically, it will feature:

• A welcoming main entrance on SE 28th Avenue.
• A student health center
• Two gymnasiums
• Dance and wrestling studios
• A performing arts theater
• Black box theater
• Separate after-hours access, allowing community use of facilities such as the theater and gymnasiums.

The project also includes street improvements between the school and Cleveland High School stadium, improving safety and accessibility for students, staff and visitors.

Advancing sustainability through mass timber and high-performance design

Designed by Mahlum Architects and Studio Petretti, the new school will incorporate nearly 870,000 board feet of Pacific Northwest-sourced mass timber, making it one of the largest K-12 mass timber projects in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest and the first school in the area designed to the Type IV Heavy Timber (HT) construction standard.

The structure will combine Acoustic Dowel Laminated Timber (ADLT) decking, glulam beams and columns, structural steel, and low-carbon concrete to create a durable, lower-carbon building that supports both sustainability and long-term performance.

The project team is targeting an Energy Use Index (EUI) of 30 kBtu per square foot per year, an ambitious benchmark for a high school in the Pacific Northwest. The project is also pursuing LEED Gold certification and exploring opportunities to earn Oregon Green Energy Technology (GET) credits.

Several major building components will be prefabricated, including exterior wall systems, ADLT roof panels and long-span steel trusses for the gymnasium and theater spaces. The roof panels will arrive on site preassembled with a temporary vapor barrier membrane, helping accelerate installation and mitigate on-site weather impacts.

Built for resilience and emergency response

Beyond sustainability, the new campus is being designed to enhance school and community resilience during emergencies. The south building, which contains two gymnasiums, will be designed to a Risk Category IV structural standard, exceeding typical code requirements for educational facilities. Certain building systems will also be supported by emergency backup power with the intent that these spaces can remain operational and serve students, the school and the broader community during an emergency event.

Creating opportunities for local trade partners

The modernization also reflects Skanska’s commitment to engaging local and diverse trade partners. Project partners include Just Right Heating and Cooling, O’Neill Construction Group, Interior Exterior Specialists, Kodiak Pacific Construction, South Town Glass, Anning Johnson, Fought/Refa, Prairie Electric and Total Mechanical.