Central Catholic High School, Msgr. Tim Murphy Center

Established in 1939, Central Catholic High School is located in the heart of a dense and active Portland residential neighborhood. With limited space for expansion, Fortis delivered the 26,700-square-foot Msgr. Tim Murphy Center, which, overall, maximizes the potential of the constrained urban setting, modernizes the existing building and provides new space for anticipated growth over the next 25 years. The project included a new three-story wing that creates an enclosed, central courtyard. Within the addition is a band/choir room and weight room with specialized acoustical engineering at the basement level, an open-space commons and counseling center on the first floor, and classrooms plus special-needs environments on the second floor. Compared to the original facility, both the new and renovated environments are enhanced through improved daylighting, larger learning areas, increased collaborative spaces, and technology/connectivity upgrades. With sustainability being a project goal, the project was designed and built to a LEED Gold equivalent with the inclusion of sustainable landscaping with stormwater management/rainwater collection, a high-performance building envelope, natural ventilation and efficient mechanical systems.