Oregon City, near the southern edge of the Portland metropolitan area, is on the cusp of unveiling a new landmark: the Clackamas County Circuit Courthouse. This project marks the first time in Oregon’s history that a courthouse has been delivered through a Public-Private Partnership (P3) model. The new facility will address the needs of a growing population, which has expanded from around 50,000 in 1936 – when the original courthouse was built – to over 420,000 residents today.

Plans for a new courthouse in Clackamas County, expected to be completed by spring 2025, have been in discussion since 1963. The county’s growing population underscored the need for an upgraded facility, but funding obstacles delayed progress for decades. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the situation, stalling the project as costs rose, leading officials to explore alternative delivery approaches to bring the project to fruition.

“At some point, a P3 was proposed,” says Nancy Bush, the County Operations Officer and Project Manager for the courthouse project. “We went through a long process to make sure we really understood what a P3 was, and after comparing it to other options, it seemed like the best direction.” 

A P3 is a contractual agreement between a public agency – in this case, Clackamas County – and a private entity, Clackamas Progress Partners, where the private sector assumes significant responsibility for designing, building, financing, operating and maintaining a public infrastructure project, such as the Clackamas County Circuit Courthouse. This model employs a holistic approach that unites a diverse team comprising the financer, designer, builder, lenders and maintenance and operations providers into a single, cohesive group. Additionally, the integration of the client’s stakeholders and user groups during the design development phases is essential to align the technical provisions of the contract with the detailed requirements of the overall project program.

“The integrated approach and shared risk in P3s create a more collaborative environment that fosters shared pride in the project’s success,” says Jon Kindrachuk, a design-build manager with PCL. “At PCL, we have a long history of taking a holistic approach on P3 projects to develop a ‘one team’ approach.” Since the project’s initiation, collaboration and execution have been defining factors in the courthouse’s success.

The P3 model has proven to be the right delivery model for the Clackamas County Circuit Courthouse, with the project achieving one of the fastest P3 procurement timelines in U.S. history. Within 11 months, the team progressed from the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) stage to team selection, with the contract finalized three months later. Upon completion, the new building will be a triumph of civic construction, encompassing 257,000 square feet, 16 court rooms and will aim for LEED Gold certification.

“The Clackamas Progress Partners distinguished themselves with their vision and expertise and completely aligned with our goals for the courthouse,” says Bush. 

According to Bush, strong coordination has been instrumental in navigating challenges and maintaining a steady pace.

“I’ve learned about how important it is to have a good team, and we have a really great team,” she says. “We’ve worked through some difficult issues together, but I’ve always found that PCL and the entire Clackamas Progress Partners team is willing to find common ground and a solution that works for everyone.” 

The Clackamas County Circuit Courthouse project exemplifies the power of the P3 model in delivering complex public infrastructure efficiently and effectively. Through thoughtful planning, innovative partnerships, and a commitment to excellence, Clackamas County’s decades-long vision has finally come to fruition.

"While I would tell them to do their homework, I would absolutely recommend the P3 project model to other municipalities,” says Bush. “It’s overall been an incredible experience for me and is a model I would choose again.”

Part of this successful partnership can be attributed to PCL’s successful track record with P3 projects, having completed over $21 billion of work under this delivery model across North America. The Clackamas Progress Partners consortium, consisting of PCL Construction, Fengate Asset Management, DLR Group and Honeywell, is responsible for the design, construction and ongoing maintenance of the courthouse. This group has successfully completed over 40 courthouse construction projects across their combined portfolios.

The Clackamas County Circuit Courthouse project is already making waves, earning awards and showing promising results in sustainability studies. Read more in the links below.

Sustainability Study of Clackamas County Courthouse Reveals Innovative Carbon-Reduction Strategies

Oregon’s First P3 Project Earns Dual National Honors for Environmental and Social Impact