Blue Mountain Community College – Workforce Training Center
McCormack Construction partnered with Blue Mountain Community College on a ground-up workforce training facility in Boardman, Oregon, designed to expand educational opportunities in high-demand technical fields. The $3.5 million project was completed in 2016 under the direction of Mark Browning and represents a significant investment in workforce development for the region. The facility provides specialized training in Industrial Systems, Data Center Technology, and Early Childhood Education, supporting economic growth and career advancement across eastern Oregon.
The project involved construction of a 15,200-square-foot single-story educational facility featuring structural steel and concrete construction located at 251 Olsen Road. McCormack served as the hard bid general contractor, delivering a modern training environment designed to support hands-on learning and technical instruction. The 11-month project created dedicated spaces for three critical workforce development programs, each requiring specialized equipment, infrastructure, and learning environments tailored to industry standards.
The primary challenge was managing a hard bid project with liquidated damages provisions that imposed financial penalties for schedule delays. This contractual structure placed additional pressure on timeline management and required precise coordination to ensure the facility opened on schedule for the start of the academic term. Any delays in material delivery, weather-related setbacks, or coordination issues could have resulted in significant financial consequences and disrupted the college’s ability to serve students enrolled in the new programs.
To address these challenges, McCormack worked closely with Blue Mountain Community College to ensure accurate programming and facility flow aligned with educational operational requirements. The team maintained strict adherence to the construction schedule, implementing proactive scheduling strategies and maintaining buffer time for potential disruptions. Effective communication with the owner throughout the construction process ensured that any issues were identified early and resolved quickly, preventing delays that could trigger liquidated damages or impact the academic calendar.
The Blue Mountain Community College Workforce Training Center was completed on time and under budget, establishing a strong relationship with the college. For McCormack Construction, this project demonstrates expertise in educational facility construction, schedule management under hard bid contractual constraints, and the ability to deliver specialized training environments that support regional workforce development and economic opportunity.