What does it take to build a world-class training facility for professional athletes? Our latest STEAM Connect Pop-up (March 11, 2026) took us to the future home of the Portland Thorns (NWSL) and the Portland Fire (WNBA 2026 expansion team) new practice facility in Hillsboro, to be called the Kaiser Permanente Performance Center. Led by the experts at Hoffman Construction, our STEAM Pathways “Next-Gen Pros” got an exclusive, hard-hat look at how blueprints become reality.
https://www.thorns.com/performance-center-hq
Mission Control: The Hoffman Trailer
Our journey began in the “brain” of the operation—the Hoffman onsite trailer. We were greeted by Brandon and Kathryn, who helped kick things off, and the rest our leadership team for the day: Chris (the “Super”), Chuck (Safety), and Ryan (Field Supervisor).
Before stepping onto the active site, safety was the #1 priority. We donned our official gear—bright orange vests, hard hats, and safety goggles. Brandon explained the strict site guidelines, including a “no-photo” policy to protect design elements of the new concept multi-sport Women’s training facility and the privacy of the high-profile teams moving in soon.
Inside the trailer, the students saw the massive scale of coordination required for a project this size. We studied a giant Gantt chart on the wall, learning how the team manages the “dance” of hundreds of tradespeople, material deliveries, and inspections. It was a masterclass in the “Math” of STEAM—scheduling everything perfectly so the project stays on track.
Precision on the Court: Leveling the Playing Field
We stepped out of the trailer and straight into the massive basketball wing on the North side of the facility. This soaring space will eventually house two professional-grade courts, but seeing it in its raw state revealed the incredible engineering required before a single hoop is hung. We were informed this is the only “new construction” for the facility — the rest of the facility was utilizing pre-existing building infrastructure.
Because professional basketball requires a perfectly level surface, the Hoffman team explained the painstaking process of grinding down high spots in the concrete floor to meet exact specifications. With the exterior walls not yet fully sealed, we could see rainwater pooling in certain low areas—a clear, visual “map” of where the underlying surfaces still needed precision leveling before the professional hardwood floors could be installed.
The Reality of Reconstruction
One of the most striking lessons we learned was about the difference between a “plan” and “reality.” Initially, the project was intended to reuse significant portions of the pre-existing building infrastructure. However, as the Hoffman team began the work, they discovered that nearly all the original walls—except for a central restroom area—needed to be taken down and rebuilt from scratch to meet the high standards of a professional training center. It was a great example of how engineers must be ready to adapt when “on the ground” conditions change.
The “Heart” of the Building: Shared Excellence
As we moved around the structure, we learned about the layout logic of the facility:
- The North End (The Fire): Home to the basketball courts and the Fire’s new training hub. We saw the massive windows into the courts designed for coaches and management to observe from their offices.
- The South End (The Thorns): Dedicated to professional soccer.
- The Connection: While the teams play different sports, they share the “Heart” of the building—a state-of-the-art treatment center. This shared zone includes cardio areas, weights, and yoga studios, where athletes from both worlds come together.
In addition to shared treatment center, the teams share a dining room. There’s a beautiful story here about the “Olympic spirit”—a space designed to bring people together over a shared meal, regardless of their sport or role in the organization. - The Business Center: RAJ Sports is the owner of the two clubs and the training center. RAJ sports and the two teams business staff also have a large space in this facility for conducting business operations. Another story here about changes of the requirements during construction – the original space dedicated for this purpose was deemed inadequate as the teams’ business organization size changed after the project was underway, so we learned that this business space was needed to be moved to an adjacent building after construction had already begun – evidence that change is constant and we must often consider how to be adaptable.
Engineering for the “Pro” Experience
The Hoffman team showed us that high-level construction is all about the details. Our students learned how specific user needs dictate design:
- Custom Heights: On the basketball side, we were informed that charging ports and fixtures installed higher than standard height—a simple but necessary adjustment when your primary users are often over 6’5″!
- Supporting the “Dual-Career” Athlete: Because the pay gap in professional sports often means female athletes run businesses or hold other jobs, the building was engineered with private “business pods” so players can handle meetings between practices.
- Hydrotherapy in the Floor: We walked over what will soon be therapy pools and a water treadmill. Currently covered with plywood for safety, these are recessed deep into the concrete foundation—a massive plumbing and structural feat.
The “Three Zones” of Progress
Our guides explained the Three Zones of a construction life cycle: the “Skeleton” (structural framing), the “Veins” (electrical/plumbing), and the “Skin” (drywall).
We saw this in action through a unique design challenge: Rounded Walls. The facility features both concave and convex curved surfaces. To achieve this, the team built a backing metal structure in fine, segmented pieces. Since drywall doesn’t naturally bend, it had to be precision-cut into sections before being applied. Later, the “mudding” process will smooth those angles into the seamless, elegant curves seen in the architectural renderings.
From the Ground Up: Career Stories on the Pitch
We concluded our tour outdoors at the massive soccer field complex. Standing alongside the natural grass and the high-tech turf fields, we discussed the “invisible” engineering beneath our feet—the massive amount of earth moved and the complex plumbing systems required to keep a field playable in Portland’s rainy winters.
Against this backdrop, the Hoffman team shared their personal journeys, proving that STEAM careers aren’t always a straight line from a classroom:
- From the Farm to the Field Supervisor: One of our guides shared how growing up on a farm—managing land, operating heavy machinery, and solving complex outdoor logistics—provided the perfect foundation for managing a multi-million dollar construction site. It was a powerful reminder that “field experience” is a massive asset in this industry.
- The High-Demand World of the Trades: The team led a deep dive into the specialized trades—plumbing, electrical, concrete, and site preparation—that make a project like this possible. Our “Next-Gen Pros” were particularly interested to learn about the high-pay potential and the current heavy demand for these skilled roles.
The session sparked a wave of excellent questions from our students, ranging from how to start an apprenticeship, union vs. non-union, to what a “day in the life” looks like on a major build. Standing on that field, the connection between hard work, technical skill, and a rewarding career felt more real than ever.
Thank You, Hoffman Construction!
A huge thank you to Brandon, Chris, Chuck, Ryan, and Katherine for the mentorship and the behind-the-scenes access, as well as Michal O. for the initial suggestion and connection! It’s clear that building a facility like this requires more than just hammers and nails—it takes empathy, foresight, and world-class engineering.
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