The Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District’s project to build a permanent office and workshop/meeting facility is nearing a key milestone: submission of the building permit application for the Conservation Resource Center. We expect to submit the building permit application to Clackamas County by November 15, 2018.
Investment will benefit constituents and District
The new facility, named the Conservation Resource Center (abbreviation: CRC), is a significant long-term investment by the District. Currently, core activities performed by the District include:
- day-to-day operations (conservation planning, invasive species management, outreach and education, and administration)
- board meetings and public hearings
- workshops
- equipment rental
- conservation demonstrations
Centralizing these activities in one location will improve District efficiency and be more convenient for customers. We expect that the facility will have a minimum 50-year life, and over that time span, the District expects to spend less money compared to leasing commercial space.
Conventional construction will blend into community
The CRC will provide nearly 11,000 square feet of space. It will be built as a conventional “stick built” structure with composition roofing. We are designing the single-level structure to look like a large house so that it blends into the site and community.
Rendering of Conservation Resource Center facing Beavercreek Road (image by 4Sight Consulting LLC)
Looking south from Beavercreek Road, driveway trees and landscaping will break up the long profile of the building. The main entrance is in the left-hand vestibule shown above.
Looking west from Ferguson Road toward the building, much of the new construction will be obscured from view by the existing century barn.
Meeting space for up to 150 people
The meeting space will be approximately 30 feet by 50 feet in size, with the kitchen and lavatories nearby. Double doors will open to the plaza to expand this space when weather permits.
Conceptual floor plan of the new Conservation Resource Center (image by 4Sight Consulting LLC)
Sixty people can be accomodated in a classroom seating arrangement, or 40 people in a U-shaped layout, or 150 people in a theater (no desks) configuration.
Many tasks remain to be accomplished
We have a variety of tasks yet to complete. Chief among them is resolving the water supply for fire suppression sprinklers. Clackamas River Water tells us there is insufficient water to meet the minimum requirements of the fire suppression system. We will perform another flow test to confirm the results of the first test. We will have consultants evaluate whether a booster pump, storage tank, or pond would allow us to achieve the minimum flow requirement.
For more history about the development of the Conservation Resource Center project, please visit our Beavercreek Farm website.
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