The Oregon National Guard is ready to unveil the extensive renovations made to the W.D. Jackson Armory in Portland, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony slated for Friday, April 4th. This occasion, beginning at 10:00 a.m., will see Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, the Adjutant General of Oregon, spearheaded the event, which will also feature local elected officials and Oregon National Guard dignitaries, according to an announcement on the Oregon Military Department's website.
Renovations to the armory, a project that demanded an investment of $9.4 million, have been completed, aiming to serve the Oregon National Guard and support community engagement, according to Mr. Todd Farmer, director of the Oregon Military Department Installations Division. "This renovation extends the life of this important facility by at least 25 years and demonstrates OMD’s commitment to Portland," Farmer told the Oregon Military Department newsroom.
The W.D. Jackson Armory, originally built in 1963 and expanded with additional storage in 1991, has seen significant improvements under the U.S. Army Service Life Extension Program (ASLEP). Federal resources and state bond sales funded the updates that include water lines, HVAC units, seismic retrofits, energy-efficient windows, new flooring, fresh paint, and bathroom upgrades.
Infrastructure also got a boost, with replaced roads, new backup generators, and secure storage for equipment. Designs from BBL Architects focused on cost-effective and energy-efficient modifications for the Oregon Military Department's facilities. Currently, the armory houses Alpha and Charlie Batteries of the 2nd Battalion, 218th Field Artillery Regiment, of the 41st Infantry Combat Team, as well as the 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment of the 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team.
Media representatives interested in covering the ribbon-cutting event are invited to reach out to Lt. Col. Stephen Bomar, the Public Affairs Director for the Oregon Military Department, for further details. With these renovations, the Oregon National Guard aims to continue its service to the state, and the W.D. Jackson Armory stands renewed as a symbol of preparedness and community collaboration.
