Multnomah County Behavioral Health

Bringing a Building Back to Life: Multnomah County Behavioral Health Resource Center

In Portland, the need to support homeless individuals with behavioral health challenges is at critical levels. To address the issue, Multnomah County purchased a vacant 24,000 sq. ft. building and adjacent parking lot in the heart of downtown with the intention of creating a new Behavioral Health Resource Center—the first of its kind for the county.

Starting with the shell of a structure that had been sitting empty for nearly a decade, Klosh Group set about transforming the space into a safe and welcoming resource for some of the most vulnerable members of our community.

  • Location: Portland, Oregon

    Size: 24,000 SF

    Cost: $26M

    Duration: 36 months

    Completed: September 2022

  • Client: Multnomah County

    Architect: Carleton Hart Architecture

    GC: Mortenson Construction

  • Owner’s Representation

    Change Order Management

    Cost Estimation

    Permitting

    Seismic Upgrades

Our engagement began with a feasibility study to determine what it would take to renovate the building, which had been partially demolished. The team also conducted a seismic evaluation, built a cost estimate, and went through several rounds of permitting with the City of Portland Planning Commission. With all necessary approvals in place, we helped the county assess general contractor bids and select the right firm for the job.

 

Designed with purpose

The Behavioral Health Resource Center is the result of collaborative visioning by the County’s Mental Health and Addiction Services, Behavioral Health Services, and the Joint Office of Homeless Services. To keep everyone in alignment, we drafted a detailed project charter early in the planning process that clearly outlined the goals, timeline, and resources required to successfully complete the project.

 As the new Behavioral Health program started to take shape, so did the county’s design requirements. Key features included:

  • A day-use center with restrooms, showers, laundry services and a community kitchen

  • An overnight shelter

  • A transitional housing level

  • Staff offices and meeting rooms

  • A large, secure outdoor plaza for participant activities

  • An energy-efficient ventilation system that provides 100% outside air changes in response to COVID and other population needs

  • An eco-roof and other environmental building standards to meet LEED-Gold certification

We oversaw construction of all of the above, facilitating change order management when necessary to ensure changes were communicated clearly and made as efficiently as possible.

The right services in the right place

 For Klosh Group, this project was about more than building a facility—it was about building pathways back to permanent housing for members of our community.

Today, the Behavioral Health Resource Center serves up to 150 people a day, connecting those struggling with addiction, mental health issues or housing instability with the resources they urgently need.