EUGENE, OR — Chambers Construction, a leading Pacific Northwest general contractor based in Eugene, Oregon, is pleased to announce the first class of graduates who have successfully completed their apprenticeship program to become journeyman carpenters. While the pandemic caused almost a year delay for this first class, the apprentices persevered to reach their goal of graduation. This year’s graduates include Adam Hastings, John Peters and Izayah Moriguchi.
 
Graduation will be held on Wednesday, June 30 at 4:00 p.m. at the Chambers Construction main office.
 
The Chambers Construction Apprenticeship Program was started in 2017 to address the need for skilled labor in the local area. Under the guidance of trainer Mark Harrington, and over the course of three years, those in the program learn the ins and outs of the construction industry including building best practices, safety protocols and craftsmanship fundamentals — all through a combination of classroom and hands-on work. Apprentices are paid throughout their time in the program with a step-up pay scale as they progress with their coursework and meet program hours.
 
With support and cooperation from local school districts, chambers of commerce and work ready programs, the Chambers Construction Apprenticeship Program has grown. Currently the program has 15 apprentices in training. The construction industry offers great career opportunities for those who are not interested in or able to attend college. Completing an apprenticeship program like the one at Chambers Construction provides graduates a solid start to a lifelong career with competitive pay and benefits.

Falls happen, but the more we can prevent them and put into place systems to protect us from becoming injured, the safer we’ll all be. Slip, trip and fall hazards are all around us, especially on jobsites. While there are many factors contributing to falls, the most frequent causes include human factors (54%), wet or slippery surfaces (25%), housekeeping issues (16%), ladders (2%), stairs (2%) and poor lighting (1%).

Prevention is key to reducing the number and severity of falls.

Equipment
Verify loads are secured and properly rigged, know the weight of each load being lifted, use whistles and horn to alert workers when hoisting material, and avoid working under moving loads.

Building
Tether tools at heights and along leading edges, communicate with others below when working at heights, barricade area below to notify others, and secure loose materials to prevent items from blowing off the building.

Stacking Materials
Secure materials to prevent falling, sliding and rolling, do not excessively stack pallets or store material on broken pallets, and store materials horizontally so they do not lean.

Materials Near Guardrails
Store materials back away from guardrails and leading edges, inspect and maintain guardrails, and ensure nets and toe boards are in place to prevent items from falling.

Uncovered Holes
Make sure all two-inch by two-inch holes or larger are protected with covers that are secured to prevent being dislodged, mark covers with “HOLE”, and clean up loose material and debris to prevent items from being kicked through open holes.

Fall Arrest Equipment
Use fall arrest equipment such as full body harnesses, positioning belts, lanyards and self-retracting lanyards. Your equipment should be set to not allow a fall of more than six feet or for you to come into contact with the surface below. Inspect each component of your fall arrest equipment regularly and use it properly - not doing so could risk saving your life.

Establish Good Habits

• Reduce muddy or slippery surfaces as much as possible (consider providing a boot cleaning station)
• Avoid placing obstacles in the walking path
• Clean as you go, ensure cleanup is included in everyone’s duties
• Keep work and travel areas tidy, well lit and ventilated
• Do not lift, lower, push, pull or carry loads that are too awkward or heavy
• Slow down, don’t be complacent, pause if you get frustrated and take a break if you are fatigued

Adapted from Construction Safety Week Fall Protection Toolbox Talk, 2020.

When you hear the name Chambers Construction, several things may come to mind but more than likely, our large commercial projects are what you will think of first. Whether it is the Market District Commons affordable housing, Civic Park and the Kidsports Field House, Gilham Elementary School, or more industrial work like warehouse expansions, freezer storage buildings, or manufacturing facilities, chances are you have seen our work around the Eugene-Springfield area. And while we are incredibly proud of these projects, not every owner has large project needs. This is why we also have a division devoted specifically to smaller projects.
 
For owners who have smaller commercial projects, it can be difficult to find a contractor who is right sized for the work and who has a diverse set of knowledge to expertly tackle a variety of project types. This is where our Small Projects Division has proven to be just the right fit for area owners and commercial property managers. Backed by our Large Commercial Projects Division, the Small Projects team of highly skilled project managers, superintendents, foremen and carpenters can respond quickly and help owners with pre-scheduled and emergency projects.
 
We like to say that there is “no commercial project too small” for the Chambers Construction Small Projects Division, and this really is true.  Projects have included tenant improvements for office and retail expansions or reconfigurations, medical office rehabilitations and renovations, customer service center remodels, commercial kitchen installations and renovations, industrial retrofits and building repairs, new construction of smaller structures and more.
 
If you would like to discuss your next project, contact our team today.

When abused and neglected children are removed from their homes, they are placed in overburdened court and child welfare systems, often slipping through the cracks and risk continued abuse or neglect. This is where Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) – or CASA volunteers – come into the picture, having the power to prevent this tragic reality.

CASA provides a powerful voice for abused and neglected children in Lane County. CASA volunteers work to prevent children from being re-abused by facilitating their move through the court and child protective services systems as quickly as possible into safe, permanent homes.

Lane County has one of the highest rates of children in foster care in Oregon: last year, over 1,100 children spent at least one night in foster care.  All of these children have suffered from neglect or abuse at the hands of their parents. Resources currently allow CASA to serve 465 children a year, about 40% of the need in our county.

Chambers Construction is proud to be a supporter of CASA, and we recognize the value their work has for our community. This month, CASA of Lane County is hosting its 17th annual Casino Night event (virtually) where they are raising funds for abused and neglected children in foster care.  The event features several auction packages, raffles, a Zoom Casino Gaming room and more. If you register by February 24th, you’ll be entered into a special prize drawing by CASA. You can register here for the event.

Learn more about CASA here:  https://www.casa-lane.org

Chambers Construction is pleased to announce updates to its leadership team — changes that will help poise the company for success as it looks to future growth.

Chris Boyum has been named Vice President. In this role, Boyum provides oversight for the company’s marketing and business development endeavors, as well as hiring, training and assigning project engineers to their respective jobs. Boyum has been with Chambers Construction for 17 years and has worked on some of Chambers Construction’s largest projects, including a $35 million residential/medical facility in Southern Oregon.

Frank Travis has been named Vice President of Field Operations. In this role, Travis oversees the company’s safety initiative and compliance activities, hires and supervises superintendents, insures there is adequate and properly trained employees for each project, and is responsible for quality control. Travis has been with Chambers Construction for 18 years and recently completed work on Homes for Good’s Market District Commons project in downtown Eugene.

Brian Erickson has been named Vice President of Preconstruction Services. In this role, Erickson uses his extensive expertise to oversee the company’s preconstruction activities on all projects, insuring estimating, scheduling, value engineering, and constructability reviews are in order for successful project completion. Erickson has been with Chambers Construction for 23 years and has worked on several complex projects, including seismic updates and renovations on historically significant buildings.

​Boyum, Travis and Erickson will all continue as project managers for Chambers Construction along with these new roles.

“Chambers is a hero amongst our community. They go the extra mile to make lives – and everything they build – better.” – Jenny Bennett

This year, the Oregon Bankers Association awarded Chambers Construction its annual Community Applause Award. We are honored to receive such a prestigious award and it’s a great way to end 2020.

Founded in 1996, the Community Applause Award is given to an Oregon business to acknowledge its significant service and contributions to its community. Oregon banks nominate a business customer that they feel is worthy of the award, then an independent panel of judges carefully reviews the nominations and votes for a winner. Since the inception of the award, 43 Oregon businesses have been recognized, including Chambers Construction this year.

Jenny Bennett, senior vice president of marketing and business development at Summit Bank nominated us. When describing Chambers, Jenny said, “Chambers Construction is one of the most philanthropic, generous businesses in town.” We are humbled by that high praise.

Richard A. Chambers founded Chambers Construction in 1955. His philosophy was to maintain the same integrity, responsiveness and devotion to building and maintaining relationships with clients, the community and partners alike. Doing business with that in mind, we have continued quality construction and giving to our community.

Chambers Construction offers support to numerous nonprofits and foundations within the Eugene/Springfield area, including Oregon Cancer Foundation, Bags of Love, Womenspace, CASA of Lane County, Cascade Health, countless education foundations and many more.

We are also proud of our employees who volunteer, participate in fundraisers, attend events, and personally give of their time and money. Some even serve as board members for these vital community organizations.
Our philosophy of “community first” is the driving force behind our philanthropic endeavors, construction and business. This will never change.

Along with the Community Applause Award, the Bankers Association gave Chambers Construction a $1000 check as a donation in our name to Bags of Love, a nonprofit that supports youth in crisis. In addition, Summit Bank was awarded $500 for the nomination, which it promptly donated to Womenspace, also on behalf of Chambers Construction. Thank you, Summit Bank and Jenny Bennett, for the vote of confidence and thank you to Oregon Bankers Association and Oregon Business magazine for the award. We are truly grateful.

“Chambers is a hero amongst our community. They go the extra mile to make lives – and everything they build – better.” – Jenny Bennett
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A video about Chambers Construction and their community involvement was produced by the OBA and is available for viewing at https://youtu.be/hEPzWCmjK6A.

Homes for Good is a Lane County housing agency working primarily to help low-income residents with the logistics of affordable housing. At a higher level, it unites neighbors to get every Lane County resident who needs help into a home.

Recently, Chambers Construction helped renovate the old Eugene Public Library building into new office space for Homes for Good, which had outgrown its facility on Day Island Road. The new offices allow the organization to continue and expand its important work of raising awareness about the lack of affordable housing in Lane County, as well as finding housing for those in need.

​Local residents who need affordable housing should consider Homes for Good their first stop on the path to finding housing that’s within reach. The organization also offers financial counseling resources, weatherization services that can reduce utility bills, maintenance support and other services for its residents.

Over time Homes for Good has developed more than 1600 units of affordable housing. Chambers Construction was the primary contractor on the recently completed Market District Commons project, a mixed-use project located in the vibrant Market District that will serve Lane County’s Veterans and Workforce with 50 units.

​You may have read a story in the Register Guard about Jose Gutierrez, a veteran who recently moved into one of the Market District units. It’s stories like these that makes us thankful for our partnership with worthy organizations like Homes for Good, a community minded organization that strives to make a better life for those in our community.

"Chambers Construction recently finished a complete remodel of the four story, 30,000 square foot Music School Wing of the Shedd."

The John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts is an education and performance center where people find and nurture community through discovery, creation, and celebration.

Chambers Construction recently finished a complete remodel of the four story, 30,000 square foot Music School Wing of the Shedd. Almost all interior spaces were demolished and rebuilt for classroom and concert use with extreme emphasis placed on acoustic separation between classrooms and adjacent spaces.
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Our Small Projects Division has also performed ongoing work at the Shedd. Some of its recent projects include installing a large screen at the Jaqua Hall Stage, building stage “wagons” that are then painted by artists and used as props, and reinforcing the ceiling structure and installing new lighting at the historic Jaqua Hall which was originally built in 1926 as the First Baptist Church.

The ninth-annual Bras for Cause event starts today, October 1, 2020.

Shirley Lyons, owner of Dandelions Flowers & Gifts, along with her daughter, Toviana, started the Bras for Cause event in 2012. They were compelled to create an event that would bring awareness to breast cancer and raise money to support patients going through treatment. Borrowing a concept they had seen around the country, Bras for Cause was born.

All Bras for Cause proceeds help support the work of Oregon Cancer Foundation. The Foundation provides stopgap financial assistance to Lane County residents and individuals receiving cancer-related services in our area. That help takes the form of what is needed most, like gas money, rent, utility bills and groceries.

The fundraiser is meant to be a pick-me-up in the face of a serious disease affecting many people. This year, Chambers Construction is honored to be the presenting sponsor along with its entry – “Rack ‘em Up!”

To vote/donate visit brasforcause.org. Bonus: every dollar you donate will enter you into a special drawing at Chambers Construction to win one of six great prizes! $1 = 1 entry. You choose how many tickets you want entered for each item’s drawing. Email us for how to split your tickets: hshaffer@chambers-gc.com OR pburian@chambers-gc.com.

Community philanthropy is foundational to our business. Chambers Construction supports our community through partnerships with organizations that provide services for those in need. We give, volunteer and fundraise for more than 60 companies that aid community members in areas of education, art, medical, housing and more.

One such nonprofit is the Relief Nursery. The Relief Nursery prevents the cycle of child abuse and neglect through early intervention that focuses on building successful and resilient children, strengthening parents, and preserving families. The work they do is vital to the most vulnerable members of our society.

Around for more than 40 years, the Relief Nursery was born out of a need to protect children in abusive situations. Back then, the primary response to abuse and neglect was removing children from their families and putting them in foster care.

Instead, the Relief Nursery focused on preventative services and supporting children and families, so abuse didn’t happen in the first place. A group of leaders took a stand and fought to do better for the children of our community. At the helm was Peggy Hoyt and the women of the Junior League of Eugene. They joined with Lynn Frohnmayer and Mary Ellen Eiler of Child Protective Services and created Relief Nursery, a private, nonprofit agency dedicated to supporting families and keeping children safe.

Today the Relief Nursery serves more than 1,000 children and their families each year. They have seen great success — more than 93 percent of the children served have no reports of abuse or neglect. It is an honor to work with such a fantastic organization and it’s an extra honor when they send you a testimonial like the one below. Well done Relief Nursery, we love supporting you.

“Chambers Construction sets a high bar for corporate investment in our community. When you see a Chambers Construction sign at a work site, you can be sure that this company is building foundations across our community, sponsoring and supporting countless organizations, including Relief Nursery. Their commitment doesn’t stop at writing a check; they attend our events and stay connected to our mission. We are grateful for their encouragement and investment in our children and families.”
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-Kelly Sutherland, Executive Director