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September 21 2025 Vol. IX • No. 19
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Fortis Construction Builds Hillsboro Readiness Center A new $31 million structure under construction in Oregon comes with design elements not often found in the average construction project: security and antiterrorism features. In August 2025, Oregon National Guard senior leaders and elected officials broke ground for the new Hillsboro Readiness Center. Work crews are now clearing the site and preparing for construction. “As we break ground for the wonderful new readiness center, we look forward to continuing this legacy of connection and collaboration with Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment and Charlie Battery, 2nd Battalion, 218th Field Artillery Regiment,” Hillsboro Mayor Beach Pace said. “We are excited for the future and remain deeply committed to the Hillsboro community.” The new Hillsboro Readiness Center, about a mile east of the original armory built in 1954, replaces the original and is expected to meet and extend the National Guard’s capabilities in the community for the next 50 years. The facility was designed under requirements for security and antiterrorism as outlined by federal Department of Defense Minimum Antiterrorism Standards for Buildings, said Rocky Kumlin, provost marshal. Contractor Fortis Construction, headquartered in Portland, Ore., teamed with woman-owned CIDA Architects, also based in Portland, on the design-build
By Lori Tobias
CEG CORRESPONDENT
project to create two buildings on the site. “As a military entity, we have additional security and terrorism-force protection,” said Melissa Burns, senior construction manager. “It’s commercial construction, so it’s a little more heavy duty. The Antiterrorism and Force Protection (ATFP) requirements require us to harden the building where we do different structural things. That may include different kinds of glass, such as blast-proof glass, offsets of the building — making sure that the building's in the right place on the site, and things like that to make sure people are safe.” The project includes two pre-engineered buildings. The main building is the 45,000-sq.-ft. Readiness Center, featuring office space, a drill floor and classroom space doubling as multi-purpose rooms, along with work bays for work on vehicles and a full commercial kitchen for mil- A John Deere 245G hydraulic itary as well as rental use. It also features excavator digs trenches for a mezzanine for infrastructure mechanics. the Oregon National Guard’s “These updates will give the Oregon Hillsboro Readiness Center. National Guard proper space to accomplish Fortis Construction is the general their mission,” said contractor for Stephen Bomar, directhe project. tor of public affairs, Oregon Military Department. The readiness center will host monthly military drills and other training activities and also will be available for community use. A John Deere 700K XLT crawler dozer moves a pile of see GUARD page 10
gravel.