Rockwood clinic set for $6.8M renovation next spring

Listen to this article

A suburban clinic is on track to receive some upgrades next spring.

The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners last week approved plans to upgrade the Rockwood Community Health Center. Medical, dental and pharmacy services are provided at the facility, which is located at 2020 S.E. 182nd Ave. in Gresham.

Multnomah County purchased the Rockwood facility from Care Access LLC (CareOregon) for $1 million in 2023. The county previously rented the facility.

Scott Edwards Architecture designed the building improvements for the county.

A general contractor will be selected through a bid process. Bids are due by Oct. 21, Multnomah County spokesperson Sarah Dean stated in an email.

The project scope includes renovating the entrance and clinic lobby; replacing the roof, the rooftop heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system units; building a small addition for a new electrical room; upgrading the electrical service; installing an emergency generator; completing other building system improvements; and applying interior finishes. The work will also involve adding electric vehicle charging stations.

The lobby will have a window wall to add more light into the space, Multnomah County project manager Brett Taute said.

The $6.8 million project is fully funded, mostly by the county. However, a $1.97 million federal Health Resources and Services Administration grant is helping pay the cost.

Initially crews will focus on performing site work and constructing the electrical room addition. Then the facility will close temporarily next year from April through September. During that time the team will renovate the entrance and lobby, tackle roofing upgrades, and perform heating/cooling and electrical work. Most of the clinic’s staff and programming will move temporarily to two different buildings – the Multnomah County East building at 600 N.E. Eighth St. and the Mid County Health Center at 12710 S.E. Division St.

Construction during the remainder of the project will take place by closing only portions of the building.

Active construction is expected to take 12 to 14 months, according to the staff report.