• Seismic Improvements

    The PPS Bond program provides the district an opportunity to focus on seismic safety. Most of Portland Public Schools facilities were built before World War II. Those and many others were built well before seismic safety was a factor in the design and construction of buildings.

    To address seismic issues and other important health and safety concerns, in 2012 PPS began a multi-year School Building Improvement Bond Program. The program’s goal is to modernize and rebuild all the schools in the district over the next several decades as well as making health, safety and infrastructure upgrades to all schools in the short term.

    A significant amount of bond work has gone toward seismic safety with 85 projects having been completed so far.

    Seismic Retrofits (2020 Bond) Seismic Retrofits (2017 Bond) Seismic Upgrades (2012 Bond) 2025 Bond Seismic Projects


    More information about PPS Seismic programs

    While we don’t know when a major earthquake will occur, we take the risk seriously and are methodically working to provide mitigation through the ongoing Bond program. We thank the taxpayers and Business Oregon SRGP for their continued generous support. For more information please visit the PPS Facilities earthquake preparedness page, and the Seismic Rehabilitation Grant Program (SRGP) page.


    Board Facilities Committee Updates

    See the latest seismic project information presented at the School Board Facilities meetings:

PPS Seismic Safety

Expand All

  • Full seismic upgrades - 15 schools so far

  • 2020 Bond significant interior seismic upgrades - Harrison Park

  • Roof Level Seismic Improvements

  • Scope of remaining PPS Seismic work

  • Schools with the highest need - Unreinforced Masonry (URM) Schools

  • How PPS plans to prioritize future seismic projects

  • SRGP Grants – Doing more with limited bond dollars

  • SRGP Grants that helped fund 10 full seismic upgrades at

  • PPS Total Seismic Projects Chart Per Bond Year