Oregon public power utility Central Lincoln PUD recently provided an update on construction of its new headquarters.
“After several months of site preparation, the project is now moving into a more visible phase, with foundation work complete and framing underway,” it said in late May.
Central Lincoln’s existing headquarters was built in 1981 and was not designed to withstand earthquakes. Seismic evaluations show it would likely collapse in a major earthquake and could be severely damaged even in a smaller one.
Like local hospitals, schools, and public safety facilities that have 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 — especially during emergencies, the utility noted.
"This project is about more than constructing a new building. It's about ensuring that Central Lincoln can continue serving our communities when they need us most,” Ty Hillebrand, General Manager of Central Lincoln, told Public Power Current.
“As a coastal utility operating in a seismically active region, we have a responsibility to invest in infrastructure that allows us to remain operational during and after major emergencies, so we can support restoration efforts and provide reliable service to our customers,” he said.
In addition to enhancing utility resiliency, the project is also contributing to the coastal economy. To date, site excavation, underground utilities, and concrete foundation work have been done by local contractors. The general contractor, Lease Crutcher Lewis, has crews living locally, dining at local restaurants, and purchasing materials from area suppliers.
The project is being funded through bonds, which allows costs to be spread over a long period of time. Bond payments are part of Central Lincoln’s normal capital budget and are not tied to a separate rate increase for this project, the utility noted.
Construction will continue through 2026, with completion expected in early 2027. Central Lincoln will remain fully operational throughout the process.
“Like other critical facilities along the coast, this investment is about preparing for the future — so we can continue providing safe, reliable power to our communities, even during major events,” it noted.
