Oregon Tradeswomen Headquarters & Workshop
Category:
Location:
Gresham, ORYear:
2020Program:
-1 Stories-9,421 Square Feet-Office-Workshop-Classroom-Construction Type VBOregon Tradeswomen (OTW) is a non-profit training and advocacy organization focused on women in construction. It serves a broad population, but focused on women in marginalized communities develop skills, confidence and leadership ability to enter and thrive in the construction workforce.
In 2019, Oregon Tradeswomen saw the opportunity to be closer to the core populations it serves by relocating its headquarters and on-site multi-purpose workshop and training facility from Northeast Portland to the Rockwood Community. YBA engaged intensively with OTW administration, staff and participants to develop and improve on the program of spaces and uses in the existing OTW facility in its new home. Flexibility, efficiency, improved social gathering opportunities and a far more functional, adaptable set of classrooms, training spaces and workshops is the result.
Conceived as a full gut and remodel of the existing building, with minimal change to the exterior shell, the new OTW headquarters features a 2,800 square foot working woodshop and welding shop, staging area and teaching area for most major construction trades and supporting storage areas. Changing and restroom facilities were sensitively conceived to consider all populations who utilize the educational spaces.
The new HQ facilitates front of house activities like outreach, advocacy and fundraising. Consciously integrating traditional classroom space into both the administrative and vocational training spheres of the facility allows for long-term expansion targets and potential changes in future.