Union labor is remaking Portland’s Providence Park soccer stadium

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On March 1, members of Iron Workers Local 29 were busy placing the trusses for a new canopy at Providence Park stadium. Here, ironworkers Corey Baker and Don McNown use a lift to secure the truss. Baker is a traveling member out of Local 808 in Orlando, Florida.
Local 29 member Ron McDowell helps steer a 38,500 pound truss. At the controls of the massive Manitowok 16000 crane is Darrel Hickman, a member of Operating Engineers Local 701. The trusses, which come in pieces, are fitted together on the ground by ironworkers before being hoisted and secured into place.

Providence Park, home to the Portland’s Timbers and Thorns men’s and women’s professional soccer teams, is undergoing a $70 million expansion using union labor. The stadium is getting three new levels and a larger roof canopy that will add 4,000 seats to its east side, bringing its capacity to just over 25,000. The new canopy reaches a height of 93 feet above the concourse and 124 feet above the field.

On March 1, more than 90 construction workers from all crafts were at work on the project, which will employ 120 union members at its peak. The upgrades will be completed by June 1, which is the date for the home opener for the Timbers.

Carr Construction, Precision Precast Erectors, and T-Plus Steel employ ironworkers doing the canopy installation and precast work. The crane operators work for Ness Campbell. Turner Construction is the general contractor.

[MORE IMAGES FROM THE WORK IN PROGRESS HERE.]

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