Oregon's Central Lincoln PUD recently provided an update about its new headquarters building, which is designed to withstand a major earthquake.
Last spring, Central Lincoln’s Board of Directors made an important decision about the utility’s resilience during and after major events. They approved the construction of a new headquarters building designed to withstand a major earthquake.
“With construction set to begin soon, the new building is a key investment in keeping the lights on -- even during catastrophic events,” the public power utility noted.
Built in 1981, the current headquarters is nearly 45 years old and wasn’t designed to withstand earthquakes.
Seismic evaluations show it would likely collapse in a major earthquake and could be badly damaged even in a smaller one. During the 2024 winter ice storm, backup systems failed, and the building wasn’t usable during recovery efforts, Central Lincoln said.
“Like local hospitals, schools, and public safety facilities that have recently been rebuilt to modern seismic standards, Central Lincoln’s headquarters is a critical facility. It houses essential administrative, operations, engineering, and information technology functions that must remain operational when our customers rely on us the most,” it noted.
The new two-story, 27,500 square foot facility will be built on the same Newport campus as the current headquarters, saving significant project costs.
It will meet the highest seismic safety standards, sit well outside the tsunami zone, and be located on stable ground 145 feet above sea level.
Central Lincoln noted that it is not alone in making this type of investment and preparing for the future.
Central Lincoln’s Board carefully considered several options, including upgrading the current building.
However, retrofitting would have been expensive and wouldn’t have addressed other outdated building systems. Ultimately, it was determined that a new building was the most cost-effective and reliable option.
The project is budgeted at $26.5 million and will be funded through the sale of bonds.
This spreads out the cost over time and reduces the rate impact for our customers. Bond payments will be included in Central Lincoln’s regular capital budget -- not through a separate rate increase, the utility said.
Construction is expected to begin this fall and be completed in early 2027.
Central Lincoln will remain fully operational throughout the process. Once the new building is ready, the current one will be removed, and the space will be converted into parking and landscaped areas.
“Like so many recent improvements along the coast—from hospitals to schools—Central Lincoln’s new headquarters will be more than just a building. It’s an investment in ensuring our communities have access to safe, reliable power—even in the face of a major disaster. By investing in resilience now, we’re planning for the challenges ahead so we can keep the lights on when it matters the most.”
