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Project name: Columbia County – John rubber building adaptive reuse
Location: St. Helens
Completion: September 2024
Size: 28,400 square foot
Cost: $ 10,589.883
Owner/developer: Columbia County
Architect: Emerick Architects
Engineers: Sutte Consulting Engineers, Lower Columbia Engineering, System Design Advisor
General contractor: Bremik construction
Submission company: Bremik construction
Other employees/important consultants: Ameresco, Mike Deroia (building inspector), Meritus Consulting, Columbia Economic Team, Columbia-Pacific Economic Development District, Columbia County Small Business Development Center, Columbia County Historical Society and Museum
Subcontractor: A-Line Concrete Cutting, All in One Mobility, Authority Dock & Door, B&B Tile Masonry, Brandsen Hardwood Floor, Brightservice Cleaning, Building Material Specialties, Cedar Landscape, Chosen Wood Window Maintenance, Cosco Fire Protection, Culver Glass, Custom Source Woodworking, District Painting, Duke Construction and Excavation, Eagle Striping Services, Elite Steel Products, Floor Factors, Huntco Supply, Interior Technology, Irs Environmental of Portland, MB Structures, McDonald & Wetle, Northwest masonry Restoration, OEG, Pioneer Sheetmetal, Portland Millwork, RC building specialties, scaffolding, manufacturers, Sign -Zauberer, Stewart Mechanical, TFT Construction, Western Partitions, Zavala
After the historic John rubber building is free for more than two decades, it was transformed into a lively community center by an ambitious 16-month restoration project.
The almost centuries -old structure was built in 1919 as St. Helens Elementary School and required extensive work to overcome unique structural challenges. It was found that the building is located directly on a basic rock shelf without a foundation, a frequent condition for buildings of that time. However, it was built on two different shelf levels, which creates a 2-foot height difference in the basement floor. One of the most unusual conditions was the support of the support on the back of the building. During the excavation, a basic rock shelf met and prevent the basis from reaching the correct survey and the contractors had to anchor 204 dowels into the basic rock in the new foundations – a rare and complex technical solution that required significant planning and cooperation.
The establishment of a new elevator in the existing structure was also a major challenge. The historical layout did not meet the requirements for the ADA and head-free and required precise adjustments, while the structural stability was maintained.
The renovation team, led by Bremik Construction, focused on maintaining the most important historical elements and implementing modern upgrades. The original windows of wooden -casers were repaired, the front front door and religion were reused, and the auditorium was attributed to its original condition by removing an additional balcony and the repositioning of the stage.
The seismic retrofitting was a critical component that included steel clips, shear walls and reinforced concrete foundations to ensure that the building could withstand seismic activity without affecting its architectural character.
The project also faced challenges in the integration of modern systems in the historical framework. In one case, the project team had to install a large HLK unit in the basement on a concrete wall with only half a customs approval on each side, then maneuver them over a 4-foot pit and reduce them with approved support and support systems.
The newly revitalized building now serves several community functions. The first floor has a 1,700 square meter auditorium for public meetings, a catering kitchen, office space for business organizations and a new museum of 1,400 square meters. The departments of the basement and upper Floor House Columbia County.
By connecting the preservation with the modernization, the John Kumm building was successfully transformed into a functional, accessible space and at the same time retained its historical essence for future generations, which was again the cornerstone of the St. Helens community.