IMEG provided structural design for the Wingspan Event and Conference Center at the Washington County Fair Complex in Hillsboro, OR. The new, 90,000-sf, award-winning facility will serve as the centerpiece for a revitalization of the Fair Complex meant to provide year-round opportunities for large community events as well as national and regional conferences.

The $46-million project provides space to accommodate a wide range of activities and events, including a 40,000-sf exposition hall and a state-of-the-art convention center with commercial kitchen, concessions, and office space.

Its unique roof design was configured to evoke the imagery of airplanes at the nearby airfield, while the building’s silhouette mirrors the profile of the coastal range. Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) roof panels and large glulam beams accentuate the sloped roof exterior and provide a clean aesthetic to the perimeter galleries, corridors, and open lobby.

The primary event space features rolled steel “mega-trusses” that span 169 feet, and can house 200 trade show booths, four divisible conference rooms, three meeting rooms, a commercial kitchen, and an outdoor exhibit area. Together, these features create a versatile space that can support large indoor and outdoor events.

The structure is supported on steel columns over concrete spread footings and utilizes a combination of buckling-restrained braced frames and Simpson moment frames to resist lateral loads.

The project received a 2020 SEAO Excellence in Structural Engineering Award in the New Building Over $20 Million category. SEAO judges were particularly impressed by the project’s combined use of both the long-span steel trusswork and CLT, which respectively met two crucial project needs. The large open spans eliminated the need for columns, thus allowing for flexible, unbroken exhibition space for events, while the CLT and glulam maintained a striking interior finish, providing a soaring experience for event attendees and guests.

The client is extremely pleased with the prominent building and multipurpose spaces, which will be an important activity hub for the entire county.