Tamarack Elementary School

Project Completed: August 2023

Hillsboro School District

Since 2017, Hillsboro School District has undergone various site improvements designed and administered by AKS. Notable projects include Hillsboro, Century, and Glencoe High School Field Conversions, where we installed artificial turf, rubberized track surfacing, sports field lighting, and stormwater design. Additional improvements included new playgrounds and gymnasiums, improved traffic flow, and increased pedestrian safety, including parking lot expansions with loading and drop-off zones and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant sidewalks.

The final major project of the 2017 bond measure was Tamarack Elementary School, which was constructed with the Reed’s Crossing development in South Hillsboro to help alleviate overcrowding at other schools in the area. The new two-story, 73,500-square-foot school building sits on approximately 8 acres. The facility also includes a multiuse turf field, outdoor learning space, multiple sheltered and unsheltered play areas, and separate bus, teacher, and parent parking lots. AKS provided land surveying, land use planning, and civil engineering for this new school.  

By bettering the functionality of Hillsboro School District institutions, the community can feel assured that their families receive the best education in a safe environment that encourages play and fun.

An overhead view of the Tamarack Elementary School development site with the sports field, playground, and school building labeled with text

CIVIL ENGINEERING

The civil work was broken into two phases to take advantage of an early start opportunity. Phase I accomplished all site grading, construction of the parking lots, installation of all site utilities, and initial construction of the field and play areas. Phase II included all structures, installation of the field lights, final construction of the turf field, and final landscaping.

LAND SURVEYING

In addition to surveying the Reed’s Crossing development, AKS performed an existing conditions survey for this new 73,500-square-foot elementary school in South Hillsboro. Our team collected construction information from the surrounding roads to show the latest conditions in the area. Because we had already surveyed the area for Reed’s Crossing, we provided substantial cost savings for the District since they didn’t have to bring in another surveyor.

LAND USE PLANNING

The land use process for this school was unique because it was an addition to an existing Planned Unit Development (PUD) land use approval. Our planners prepared a PUD Modification application, Conditional Use Permit, and Development Review. The project entailed negotiations with City Staff concerning urban design standards in South Hillsboro that required buildings to be placed adjacent to the street. These design standards contradicted the safety design principles of a controlled campus. AKS’ land use planners worked with the District to develop a site plan that achieved both the urban design and safety goals and received unanimous approval from the Planning Commission.

CONSTRUCTION SUPPORT

AKS provided ongoing overall construction support services throughout the duration of both phases of the project and inspection services specifically for the construction of the multiuse turf field. AKS verified that the cement-treated subgrade was completed to plan and specifications, confirmed the as-constructed grading matched the design, and ensured each base layer received the necessary amount of rock. Once the turf was placed, we inspected the depth of the infill and reviewed whether the tufted and inlaid line layouts were straight and correct.

This type of field construction required additional support with developing an environmental management plan, ensuring the project complied with Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) 1200-C erosion control requirements. To ensure the new field met these requirements, our team provided 1200-C erosion control inspections, including biweekly inspections during the summer and weather-dependent inspections after rain events to verify that sediment-free runoff was leaving the site.

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