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

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

Benson to begin construction in 2021

The PPS School Board has officially approved the order of the middle school and high school modernization projects from the May 2017 Bond.

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. The plan is to have students continue to use different parts of the school and shift to areas that have been completed over the three years. Read the full PULSE story on the construction schedule for the May 2017 Bond schools here.

Benson additional documents

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.