Clackamas County’s courthouse was built in 1936 in the heart of downtown Oregon City. While it continues to serve hundreds – sometimes thousands – of residents daily, courthouse needs have outgrown the facility’s ability to adequately meet the demands of our increasing population and the need to hold hearings in a timely manner.
Factoring in population growth, the significant safety risks, and functional impediments associated with the existing courthouse including a lack of adequate jury assembly space and secured access for defendants and witnesses, replacement of the courthouse is a wise investment.
Through the Oregon Courthouse Capital Construction and Improvement Fund (OCCCIF), the state may provide matching funds to go toward the replacement of county courthouses. In the case of the Clackamas County courthouse, what this means is the state would be able to provide 50 percent of the funds to cover the estimated project cost.
- In July 2017, the Oregon Legislature provided Clackamas County with $1.2 million for planning costs associated with the project.
- In June 2019, the Oregon Legislature passed a bill authorizing $31.5 million for construction of a new courthouse. The state funding is contingent upon Clackamas County securing matching funds for the local share of the project. County officials are currently exploring various local funding options, which may include a voter-approved bond measure.
In addition to the Legislature’s continued involvement in this process, the project also includes participation from the courts, the Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office, the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, the Oregon Department of Human Services, the Association of Oregon Counties’ (AOC) Court Facilities Task Force, the city of Oregon City, and additional key stakeholders.
This page will be updated as developments occur.
Interested Vendor Information
Clackamas County is currently in the process of determining the best procurement/contract method for the new county courthouse project.
The Board of County Commissioners has directed that Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) be used in the construction of the new courthouse to align with the county’s Forest Economic Development and Sustainability policies. A county task force has researched the inclusion of CLT for the project and that research will inform the proposed contracting method.
The county has not retained a primary design or construction firm for the project. Once Requests for Proposals are issued, all formal solicitations for the project will be posted on the County Bid and Contract Information page as well as on the Oregon Public Information Network (ORPIN).
The county is not accepting unsolicited sales information at this time. Please check this website regularly for project updates.
Wood Innovation Grant
Clackamas County was recently awarded $100,000 from the U.S. Forest Service as part of the 2019 Wood Innovation Grant program. The funds are being used by #ClackCo’s Economic Development Division, working with the University of Oregon School of Architecture and Oregon State University’s Tallwood Design Institute, to consider how cross-laminated timber, or mass timber, could be used in the construction of a new county courthouse.
Students in the University of Oregon fall 2019 Design Studio will prepare up to five courthouse designs incorporating mass timber elements. The top selected design will then undergo a Life Cycle Analysis that will include consideration of cost differences and environmental benefits of using mass timber compared with more traditional materials in the construction. The results are expected in spring 2020.
Unveiling the Initial Concept Design
Resources
- Final Report: National Center for State Courts
- Project Fact Sheet (Updated August 2019)
- 2017 Legislative Report (pg. 13-14; 51-71; 131-142)
- 2019 Legislative Report (pg. 10-12; 74-85)