The Design The new facility is built for the future, with an internal structure that can be re-organized as needed. The conference space doubles as a National Guard assembly hall, seating 1,000 people. In case of inclement weather, it is suitable for college commencement. The design also incorporates many efficiency features to minimize long-term maintenance costs and maximize building envelope efficiency.
Sustainability The structure meets Gold certification standards of the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). In fact, the goal for the center is a “net-zero” structure, ultimately producing as much energy as it consumes over the course of a year. Toward that goal, designers included geothermal wells
to tap the Earth’s ambient temperature. There’s a “green roof” and LED lighting for the college’s workforce training area, solar capacity and natural materials for sound and thermal insulation.
Opening Back in 2008, the college’s board of directors approved a long-term lease for the Oregon National Guard to host its location for the Ft. Dalles Readiness & Workforce Innovations Center. Groundbreaking was June 2, 2012. The center will officially open in spring 2014. The facility replaces the Oregon National Guard armory at Sixth & Webber in The Dalles, an obsolete structure located on property owned by Wasco County. The old armory, built in the 1950s, will be demolished, making that property available as a source of new revenue for Wasco County.
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