New Construction College in Portland Could Shape Oregon's Future

Construction College Rolls Out Spring Class Schedule, registration is open and classes begin April 2nd.

Photo by: Tim King

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - A new kind of college has opened its doors in Portland.

President Dan Graham of the Northwest College of Construction says students will build their educational skills in an environment specifically designed to consolidate multiple construction-related industries.

Programs at NWCC include Sheet Metal, Welding, Laborer, Carpentry, Heavy Equipment, Masonry, HVAC and Concrete Finishing. There are also options for more established professionals like supervisors and managers who want to develop their leadership skills and training.

Even more programs include instruction on safety, first aid, flagging, residential and commercial roofing and blueprint reading.

NWCC is the first college in the Pacific Northwest dedicated to construction. Though classes didn't begin until September of last year, it has been on the drawing boards for three years according to Graham. He cites the combination of craftworker training with management development, as well as open enrollment and apprenticeship programs, saying they are "illustrative of the innovative nature of the educational institution."

Graham says Oregon's future will strongly benefit from a college that sets forth the correct methods of construction; approaches to building that don't come back later to haunt homeowners and contractors.

"There are big issues affecting the whole country, the building mold issue, it takes skilled workers to put the pieces together and keep the water out and we're finding out too late that a technical process is required and that if you don't build it right, you're going to have a problem."

Unfortunately, that scenario has been played out time and time again in Oregon and other states.

"It is driving insurance prices," he added. "It's really a question of if you want to do it right in the first place or hire a lawyer later."

The College was founded by the following industry associations: Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. Pacific Northwest Chapter, Associated General Contractors Oregon Columbia Chapter, Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Portland and National Utility Contractors Association of Oregon and Southwest Washington.