Get Involved

The Benson Design Advisory Group (DAG)

The goal of the Benson DAG is to develop comprehensive, equitable, integrated and visionary high school campus plans and schematic designs with authentic school community engagement.  The DAG will consist of a group of parent, teacher, student, alumni, industry and community stakeholder representatives who will be involved in the development of the design of the modernized Benson High School. For more information please download the Benson DAG information flyer. |Español |Tiếng Việt | Русский | Soomaali | 中文

Read the Benson Design Advisory Group (DAG) Charter | Español |Tiếng Việt | Русский | Soomaali | 中文

Read the Benson DAG schedule  Español |Tiếng Việt | Русский | Soomaali | 中文

DAG Meeting Notes & presentations

DAG #1 Presentation 10-4-18
DAG# 1 Mtg Summary & Notes 10-4-18

DAG #2 Presentation 11-1-18
DAG #2 Mtg Summary & Notes 11-1-18

DAG #3 Presentation 12-6-18
DAG #3 Mtg Summary & Notes 12-6-18

DAG #4 Presentation 1-31-19
DAG #4 Mtg Summary & Notes 1-31-19

DAG #5 Presentation 2-28-19
DAG #5 Mtg Summary & Notes 2-28-19

DAG #6 Presentation 4-25-19

Benson Tech SD Open House presentation 6-6-19
SD Open House Design Boards 6-6-19

For information on the previous work on master planning Benson undertaken in 2016, please reference the MPC documents below.

The Benson Master Planning Committee (MPC)

The Benson Master Planning Committee (MPC) was a group of school and community stakeholder representatives who worked together to help provide feedback for the Benson Tech master plan. View the Benson Master Planning Committee Roster

MPC members also synthesized community-wide input and shared the evolving details of the project to others in the community. While MPC members did not make decisions, their input was crucial in creating a design that the entire Benson community can be proud of.  Read the Benson MPC charter here.

MCP #1 Presentation 1-28-16
MCP #1 Mtg. Minutes 1-28-16
Video of MPC Mtg.#1 1-28-16
MPC#1 Marcia Latta Outreach Presentation

MCP #2 Presentation 2-4-16
MPC #2 Mtg. Minutes 2-4-16
Video of MPC Mtg.#2   2-4-16
MPC#2  2016 Bond Lay of the Land Presentation

Video of Design Workshop #1 (3-5-16)
BHS Culture and Campus student presentation 3-5-16

MPC #3 Mtg. Minutes 3-10-16
MCP #3 Presentation 3-10-16
Video of MPC Mtg.#3 (3-10-16)

MPC #4 Mtg. Minutes 3-31-16
MCP #4 Presentation 3-31-16
Video of MPC Mtg.#4  (3-31-16)

MCP #5 Presentation 4-14-16
MCP #5 Mtg. Minutes 4-14-16

MCP #6 Presentation 5-12-16
MCP #6 Mtg. Minutes 5-12-16
Video of MCP #6 (5-12-16)

BHS MP Workshop #2 Summary 4-2-16
Video of Design Workshop #2 (4-2-16)

BHS Open House 5-31-16

View the First Draft Benson Master Planning Document 11-2-16

BHS Conceptual Draft

MPC #7 Mtg Notes & Slides 11-3-16

MPC #8_Presentation 1-5-17
MPC #8_Meeting Notes/Summary 1-5-17

MPC #9 Meeting Notes 1-19-17
MPC #9_Presentation 1-19-17

Benson MPC #10_Presentation 2-23-17
Benson MPC #10 Meeting Notes 2-23-17

Benson MPC #11_Presentation 3-23-17
Benson MPC #11_Meeting Notes 3-23-17

Benson MPC #12_Presentation 5-4-17
Benson MPC #12_Meeting Minutes 5-4-17

Benson MPC #13_Presentation 11-2-17
Benson MPC #13_Meeting Minutes 11-2-17

Benson MPC #14_Meeting Minutes 4-16-18
BPHS Ed Spec Comparison for Discussion 4-16-18
Ed Spec Utilization Tables-Adjustment-3-22-18
BPHS Scheme L Original Preferred 4-30-18
BPHS Cost Reduction Scenarios-DRAFT 4-30-18
Benson Cost Reduction Calculations-DRAFT 4-30-18

Benson MPC# 15 Agenda 4-30-18
Benson MPC #15_Meeting Minutes 4-30-18

Benson MPC#16 Agenda & Materials 5-14-18
Benson MPC#16 Meeting Minutes 5-14-18

Public Design Workshops
During the master planning process two Public Design Workshops  and an Open House took place providing the greater Benson community a voice in the design process.

Stay Informed

School Board supports expanded Benson modernization plan

Updated Benson Master Plan dated 3/13/19 was approved by the School Board on 3/19 with board resolution 5859, which included:

A separate new Multiple Pathways to Graduation (MPG) building on the Benson parking lot to include: Alliance, DART/Clinton, Teen Parent Childcare, Reconnection Services & Program. In the modified Benson Master Plan, additional classroom space will be allocated within the Benson Polytechnic High School campus to accommodate Portland International Scholars (PISA), Pioneer High School, Portland Evening and Portland Summer Scholars and Portland Virtual Scholars. This increases budget to $330M

Benson remains on schedule to begin construction in 2021

To ensure the Benson project remains on schedule, the Board of Education expects to undertake a future capital bond campaign in 2020 to support all phases of the ongoing Benson campus construction, among other projects. This will supplement the remaining money from the 2017 Bond allocated to the Benson project.  If a bond is not referred or passed by voters in 2020, the Benson project, inclusive of the MPG dedicated building, is expected to be completed by a Full Faith and Credit Bond.

Benson Tech/MPG programs will relocate during construction

In order to increase safety and project efficiency, all students and staff will be temporarily relocated during construction: Benson staff and students, including Pioneer High School programs, will relocate to the Marshall Campus on SE 92nd Ave. Alliance High School, Reconnection and DART/Clinton will relocate to the Kenton Campus. PISA, Evening & Summer Scholars will relocate to Grant High School.

Benson Master Plan approved

View the approved master plan
The PPS School Board has officially approved the Benson Polytechnic Modernization Master Plan.  Read more about it here.

Benson additional documents

BPHS BOE Masterplan Report 12-11-18

BPHS Site Specific Educational Specification 12-11-18

Benson Tech Pre-Design Diligence Report (6-26-17)

Benson Focus Option Educational Specifications

The District's Comprehensive High School Educational Specifications

What Is Modernization?

Benson's proposed modernization will completely reconfigure and update learning spaces with a focus on indoor environmental quality, sustainability and historic preservation. Full modernizations retain the historic character of the school while bringing those buildings up to code and concurrently creating a more modern learning environment. This is considered the most cost-effective, sustainable way to improve Benson, due to age, condition and historic significance.
View an info-graphic that describes factors that influence the design of a future Benson High School

Get Connected
Get connected to receive updates and events notices. Join the Benson project mailing list at BHSMod@pps.net

For more information about school building improvements, contact: 503-916-2222 or email schoolmodernization@pps.net

PPS Social Media links 

Learn more about Benson High School at their web site or the Benson Facebook page.

Benson schedule

The construction on Benson Polytechnic would begin in the summer of 2021 and is anticipated to be built in three phases, completed in 2022, 2023 and 2024. 

Project Team

Bassetti Architects is the architecture firm selected for the modernization of Benson Polytechnic High School. Since 1947, Bassetti Architects has designed places where people learn, work, play, and connect. They believe that architecture is most successful when it reflects client goals and thoughtfully interacts with the surroundings. The firm approach is to share their creative synergy and to join with clients and the community in a truly inclusive process with a commitment to excellence.