Forest Hills Project Updates

Project Manager’s Notes:

At the Uplands campus, final punch-list activities have been completed, and the facility is ready for staff and students. Recent work included playground cleanup, installation of new wood chips, and restriping of the covered play area.

On the permitting front, the main building permit and grading permit remain under review by the City. For the right-of-way permit, the District is preparing revisions in response to City comments and required modifications associated with the undergrounding of power along Andrews Road. The project team is targeting resubmittal of the revised permit package during the first week of September.

In the field, demolition activities continue to progress safely and on schedule. Hazardous materials abatement was completed ahead of schedule, allowing structural demolition to advance without delay. Demolition of the existing school building has now been completed, and the contractor is currently removing building foundations, slabs, footings, and underground structures. Utility disconnections have been finalized, and upcoming work includes decommissioning the underground oil tank in accordance with DEQ requirements, followed by removal of remaining site features and final site clearing. The demolition contractor remains on track to complete site turnover to the new building contractor during the week of September 7.

For the main building construction package, on August 10, the School District Board approved the construction contract with Robinson Construction, and a formal Notice to Proceed was issued on August 11. Since receiving authorization to proceed, Robinson Construction has begun pre-construction activities, including preparation and coordination of initial submittals, executing contracts with subcontractors, permitting, scheduling, as well as other project startup planning items. The project team is actively coordinating the transition between demolition and new construction activities to support a seamless site handover and commencement of work on the new school facility.

Late Summer Update

As we continue to progress with the Forest Hills Elementary School Replacement Project, we want to keep you informed about current and upcoming activities on site. Below is the latest progress report and schedule for the completion of the demolition phase and planning for upcoming construction.

Demolition Phase

Hazardous Materials Abatement

To ensure the safety of the community and project crew, comprehensive hazardous material abatement was conducted prior to structural demolition.
 
As of Monday, July 27, abatement of hazardous materials throughout the entire building was successfully completed ahead of schedule.

Building & Site Demolition

Utility Disconnection: All utility services (water, gas, electricity, and telecommunications) have been fully disconnected and capped to ensure the building and site are safe.

Structural & Foundation Demolition: Structural demolition of the main building is complete. The demolition contractor has transitioned to excavating and removing building foundations, including the concrete slab, footings, and underground spaces (mechanical room, electrical vault, and storage vault). This activity will continue through the week of August 31.

Underground Tank & Drywell

Decommissioning: Work to decommission the underground oil tank began the week of August 17 in strict accordance with DEQ guidelines. Apex/PBS Environmental was on site to oversee tank decommissioning, soil testing, cleaning, and disposal. Drywell decommissioning will follow once all foundations and underground spaces are removed.

Site Clearing: Following foundation removal, the contractor will clear remaining site structures.

Project Manager’s Notes:

At the temporary Uplands campus, interior restorations continue to move forward to ensure the building is ready for staff and students, with contractors actively painting walls, cleaning carpets, and polishing the gymnasium floor.

On the permitting front, the City officially approved and issued the demolition permit, clearing the way for demolition to begin. The main building permit remains under review with no new updates. Regarding the right-of-way permit, the district received the first round of review comments from the City, which the design team has reviewed and formally responded to.

In the field, the demolition contractor is making excellent progress while keeping safety the top priority for both the construction workers and the surrounding neighborhood. Hazardous materials abatement was broken out into two phases. This allowed structural demolition to begin as soon as phase one was complete, starting at the east side of the school near the gymnasium and moving west. As of Monday, July 27th, abatement has been fully completed about a week ahead of schedule. This early completion has cleared the way for the demolition of the entire school. Additionally, the contractor has finalized salvaging all District-identified items, which will be safely stored for repurposing or integration into the new school building.

For the main building construction package, the Invitation to Bid officially closed on July 14th. The District received four proposals from the pre-qualified general contractors, with Robinson Construction emerging as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. A formal Notice of Intent to Award has been issued to all participating bidders. The District and Robinson Construction are currently reviewing the contract documents, which will be presented to the School District Board for final approval prior to execution and the issuance of the notice to proceed.

Summer Update

As we move forward with the Forest Hills Elementary School Replacement project, we want to keep you informed about the current and upcoming activities on site. Below is the latest progress report and schedule for the demolition phase.

Demolition Phase

Contractor Mobilization

Mobilization: The contractor officially mobilized to the site on June 29.

Site Setup & Safety: Work has begun on installing temporary facilities, perimeter security fencing, erosion controls, and tree protection measures. The scheduling of necessary inspections is underway to finalize and pull the demolition permit.

Hazardous Materials Abatement

To ensure the safety of the community and the crew, comprehensive hazardous material abatement is being conducted prior to structural demolition.

Phased Schedule:

Phase 1 (East Side): Installation of containment began on June 29. Abatement will start at the gymnasium and move west toward the administration spaces, with a target completion date of July 14.
Phase 2 (Remaining Building Sections): Work will cover the library and the north and south corridors, with a target completion date of July 31.
Safety Oversight: The School District is strictly monitoring all abatement activities. Our environmental hygienist of record, Apex/PBS Environmental, is on-site daily to inspect containment protocols, oversee safe material disposal, and conduct rigorous testing.

Building & Site Demolition

Utility Disconnection: Prior to the start of demolition, all utility services (water, gas, electricity, and telecommunications) will be fully disconnected and capped to ensure the building is completely safed-off.

Structural Demolition: Demolition is scheduled to begin on July 14, following the completion of Phase 1 abatement.
Progression: Heavy equipment work will start on the far east side of the property (at the gym) and progress west.

Site Clearing: Once the main building is down, the contractor will remove site structures including playgrounds and backstops, as well as trees approved and permitted for removal.

The final step of this phase involves decommissioning and safely removing underground structures, including an abandoned oil tank and stormwater drywells.

Next Steps: Site Handover

Following the successful completion of all demolition and clearing activities, the demolition contractor will hand over the site to the main building General Contractor. This transition is currently scheduled for the week of September 7, marking the start of new building construction.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we build a safe, modern new school for our community.

Project Manager’s Notes:

District staff have successfully coordinated and executed the entire move to the temporary Uplands School campus. All furniture, curriculum, and equipment have been transitioned, ensuring a smooth setup for our teachers, students, admin staff, and facilities team ahead of the new school year.
 
On the permitting front, we achieved a major milestone with the official submission of the full building permit package for the main building on June 3rd.
 
In the field, the demolition contractor officially mobilized on June 29th. Their immediate focus is on installing temporary facilities, erosion control, and tree protection measures so they can request the necessary inspections to obtain the final demolition permit. From there, they will begin hazardous materials abatement in accordance with strict containment and disposal protocols, safely salvage the identified building art and commemorative pieces, and finally proceed to building demolition.
 
Looking ahead, the District continues to move through the competitive bidding window for the main building construction. The general contractors are actively submitting questions, and the design team is currently reviewing those requests for information (RFIs) and substitution requests ahead of the July 14 bid due date.

Project Manager’s Notes:

A major procurement milestone was reached this month. The Invitation to Bid (ITB) was formally advertised on May 27 to the pool of prequalified general contractors. The team is now managing the competitive bidding window, with final Bids due on July 14.

With the contract fully executed for the abatement and demolition package, the District issued a formal Notice to Proceed (NTP) to the demolition contractor on May 21. The current focus is reviewing initial pre-construction submittals and coordinating the kickoff meeting to prepare for field mobilization.

Permit approvals are moving forward on multiple fronts. The city is currently processing the demolition and tree protection permits, and the DEQ 1200-C erosion control permit remains under active review. Additionally, the team has submitted the right-of-way (ROW) permit on May 20, followed by the full building permit package on May 29.

In parallel, planning is underway for summer packing logistics and the upcoming transition to the temporary Uplands campus, timed with the conclusion of the school year in the second week of June.

Spring Update

This summer, construction of the new Forest Hills Elementary School will begin. At the end of the school year, the school will be packed up and contents moved to Uplands Elementary School where Forest Hills will reside during the construction of the new school. Construction will take 2 years to complete with classes starting in the new facility in the fall of 2028.

Farewell to Forest Hills

Before work begins on the new Forest Hills Elementary School, we invite our community to take one last walk through the halls of the current school and celebrate the memories made there over the years. Join us for the Farewell to Forest Hills Community Open House.

Friday, May 29
3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Forest Hills Elementary School

Community members, neighbors, current and former families, alumni, and past and present staff are invited to explore the library, gym, classrooms, playgrounds, and other spaces that have been part of generations of learning, friendships, and school traditions.

Project Manager’s Notes:

The Design Team is finalizing the 100% Construction Documents and building permit set, incorporating District feedback received during its review of the draft documents. Procurement efforts are also progressing in parallel. The Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process for general contractor prequalification concluded on April 7, with seven firms submitting proposals; the District has shortlisted four firms to move forward. The main building construction package is targeted for release in the second week of May, aligned with completion of the final Construction Documents.
 
At the same time, the District issued the first bid package for abatement and demolition of the existing building. Bids were received on Tuesday, April 28, with five contractors submitting proposals. The District will evaluate the submissions and proceed with an award to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder.
 
The project continues to make progress on permitting. Following the District's receipt of the approved Land Use Findings on March 16 and the completion of the required protest period, the District has submitted the demolition permit and tree protection permit, with the public works permit to follow.
 
As planning transitions toward construction, efforts remain focused on keeping staff and families informed and preparing for the upcoming move. Temporary campus planning and relocation coordination are ongoing, with key activities scheduled over the summer.
 
The latest estimate indicates the project remains over budget. The team is continuing to track costs closely and advance cost reduction measures as the documents are finalized and the project moves into bidding.

Project Manager’s Notes:

The Design Team has completed the 75% Construction Documents, and efforts are now focused on finalizing the first of two construction bid packages. The initial package, limited to abatement and demolition of the existing building, is targeted to go out to bid in early April. In parallel, the District is conducting a pre‑qualification process for general contractors for the second package, which includes full building construction; RFQ responses are due April 7. This second package will be issued for bid in early May, aligning with the completion of the 100% Construction Documents.
 
The project has also reached an important permitting milestone. The District received the approved Land Use Findings on March 16, and following the conclusion of the required protest period, the District will be able to proceed with securing all remaining construction‑related permits.
 
As the project advances toward construction, maintaining strong communication with staff, families, and the community remains a priority. Stakeholder engagement efforts continue to ensure everyone remains informed and prepared for the upcoming transition. Planning is well underway to support a smooth relocation for students and staff, with necessary temporary campus preparations scheduled to occur over the summer.
 
The latest estimate indicates that the project is over budget. Close coordination with the Design Team continues as scope, cost, and constructability are reviewed throughout the final stages of document development and bidding, and a number of cost reduction strategies have been implemented.

Project Manager’s Notes:

The Design Team has completed the 50% Construction Documents for the Forest Hills replacement project, and the District is now reviewing them for conformance and completeness. This includes alignment with program requirements and feedback from key operational stakeholders.
 
Additionally, the project continues through the Land Use Review process, with the team actively responding to City comments to keep approvals moving forward. Meanwhile, the District and school leadership are planning for the future temporary relocation of students and staff during construction. Preparations and any necessary improvements to the temporary campus will take place over the summer in advance of the move.
 
The District remains committed to keeping the design within budget and continues to work closely with the Design Team to monitor scope. Stakeholder engagement continues to be ongoing to ensure the project meets educational, functional, and operational priorities as it advances toward final Construction Documents.

Project Manager’s Notes:

The design team has completed the Design Development phase for the Forest Hills replacement project. The LOSD Bond Team has reviewed the documents and provided comments, including input from the district’s commissioning consultant on MEP systems and controls. The district and design team will continue to engage stakeholders and gather feedback from departments such as Facility Operations, CNS, Student Services, and Safety and Security to ensure alignment with educational and operational priorities.

The project now moves into the Construction Document phase, with the first package scheduled for delivery by the end of January 2026. Meanwhile, the City of Lake Oswego continues its review of the Land Use application, and all requested clarifications have been addressed to keep the permitting process on track. In preparation for the upcoming transition, the district will begin planning for staff relocation over the summer, including packing and logistics. An inventory of commemorative items, such as monuments, plaques, and artwork, is also underway to inform conservation efforts and next steps.

Project Manager’s Notes:

Following the successful completion of the schematic design phase, the design development phase is now approaching its conclusion. The project team is preparing to submit for land use review, which will formally initiate the permitting and approval process. Recent stakeholder engagement has provided valuable input from school staff, parents, neighbors, and city officials, and additional meetings are being planned with parents, teachers, and community members to continue shaping the design. These efforts ensure the Forest Hills replacement building will reflect both educational priorities and community values as the project advances toward construction.

Project Manager’s Notes:

Design for the Forest Hills replacement building is actively underway. A series of stakeholder meetings have been held, bringing together school staff, parents, neighbors, and city officials to share their feedback and expectations. This input is currently being reviewed and incorporated into the evolving design, helping ensure the new school reflects the needs and values of the entire community. As the project moves forward, the team is preparing for the next critical milestone: submitting for land use review, which will formally launch the permitting and approval process.

Project Manager’s Notes:

Forest Hills design is underway. Stakeholder meetings have continued, and feedback is being reviewed