Ida B. Wells Modernization

The safety and security of all students is our top priority.

The modernized school will have access-controlled doors that will be fully secured during the school day. The new Ida B Wells will have a single point of entry to the school for all visitors, who will use a video intercom to request access; they will proceed to check-in at the main office before visiting the school. Students arriving after the bell will be required to follow the same procedure.

Fences and gates will be installed around the consolidated campus including the main student outdoor areas near the commons, pathways between facilities, and the athletic facilities to support the secure, single point of entry into the school.

The coordinated design for fencing, gates, and the main point of entry will allow the school staff to secure the site during school hours, events, and at any other times when it is necessary for student safety or site operations. School staff may also keep exterior gates unlocked when it supports the plan for the day on campus. In addition, the gates at the north and south ends of the pathway which connect to the pool will be open outside school hours both to support public access to the pool, as well as pedestrian access through the campus.

The design balances the amount of fencing and gates as much as possible while maintaining school safety.

This campus is the property of Portland Public Schools. As with all district-owned facilities, community use of school spaces, including fields, is managed through PPS’s Civic Use of Buildings (CUB) program. 

A traffic impact study was conducted to learn about potential changes to traffic patterns in the neighborhood surrounding the modernized Ida B Wells. The study found the following conclusions:

• The high school will maintain an average building student capacity of 1,700 students after the modernization project. The frequency and capacity of on-site events (sports, performances, clubs, etc.) are not expected to significantly change with the school’s modernization, and therefore, a notable increase in site-generated traffic is not anticipated
• The proposed improvements to on-site circulation and the relocation of the main school building to the south edge of the property are expected to increase drop-off/pick-up activity along SW Vermont Street compared to today’s operations. However, this is not expected to create any safety concerns.

The design for the modernized IBW includes two unrestricted pedestrian and bike paths through the campus and a third path that will provide access through the middle of the high school campus outside school hours.

Ida B Wells Parking Lot

Bicycle, vehicle and pedestrian access will be allowed through the Ida B. Wells driveway and parking lot along the north and east edges of the campus connecting SW Capitol Highway to SW Vermont Street. This will serve as the vehicle connection through campus. The driveway will be improved to accommodate two-way traffic and the parking will be reconfigured with perpendicular parking spots.

The vehicle access point which currently connects the Ida B Wells parking lot to SW Burlingame Avenue will be reconfigured for bicycle and pedestrian access.

No restrictions will be scheduled for traffic through the Ida B Wells driveway and parking lot during typical site operations (both during and outside school hours). Access to this part of the school site may be restricted to protect students, staff, and community during an emergency or in the event of a safety concern.

Rieke Driveway

Pedestrian and bicycle access through the Rieke Elementary School driveway and parking lot connecting SW Capitol Highway and SW Vermont Street will be continuously open. Pedestrians and cyclists travelling north-south will use a pathway on the east edge of the parking lot. 

Vehicles will be able to enter the north part of the parking lot from SW Capital Highway and the south part of the parking lot from SW Vermont Street. The two portions of the parking lot will be separated by a pedestrian crosswalk which will be protected from vehicles by bollards on either side;this sidewalk will connect to the Rieke pedestrian entrance on the west. 

Pedestrian and bicycle through traffic and vehicle access to either part of the parking lot will not be restricted by gates or fences. Vehicle access to both parts of the parking lot will not be restricted by gates or fences. There will not be any scheduled access restrictions to this portion of the school site, though access may be restricted to protect students, staff, and community during an emergency or in the event of a safety concern.
 

The number of parking spaces included in the modernization to be approximately the same as the existing number of spaces.

The parking lot will be reconfigured to accommodate two-way traffic, perpendicular parking spots, a two-lane drop-off loop by the school entrance and other upgrades. These upgrades are designed to improve traffic flow through the lot and adjoining streets.

PPS’s state-approved CTE program is focused on ensuring that the offerings we provide are connected to high-wage, high-demand industries in the metro region. Pathways must be aligned with regional workforce development approaches and priority areas.

Learn more about CTE at PPS

What kinds of CTE spaces are built as part of a modernization are decided in coordination with school leadership and guided by a number of factors, including:

• Alignment with state and regional CTE pathways and priority areas
• Anticipated staffing, including expected staff specializations and expertise
• Construction and operating budgets
• Space requirements
• Regulatory requirements

Design Team

Bora Architecture has deep K-12 experience and a strong history of successful projects with PPS, including Faubion PK-8 and the rebuilt Lincoln High School. They are also a national leader in the design of performing arts spaces.

Construction Team

Established in 1922, Hoffman Construction is the largest privately owned general contractor based in the Pacific Northwest and one of the largest general contractors in the country. Hoffman is an employee-owned company of more than 900 dedicated professionals, delivering projects in more than a dozen states and overseas in advanced manufacturing, commercial, aviation, education, sports, healthcare, government, and transportation markets.