On the Boards: Fora Health recovery housing

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A proposed three-story building with recovery housing units and amenity spaces for an addiction treatment and recovery center is awaiting design review. The approximately 20,000-square-foot building would be in Portland at 10230 S.E. Cherry Blossom Drive.

Holst Architecture designed the project for Fora Health. The project team also includes developer Edlen & Co., civil engineer Vega Civil Engineering, structural engineer TM Rippey Consulting Engineers, MEPT (mechanical, electrical, plumbing and technology) engineer PAE, landscape architect Ground Workshop, and general contractor Walsh Construction.

The project’s housing will be a continuation of Fora Health’s programming at its main location, Kevin Valk, a Holst Architecture owner and principal in charge of the project, stated in an email. Patients leaving services in the building will transition to the housing on the way to long-term recovery.

The building will provide 46 beds for people in recovery, as well as two studios for floor managers. Residents will stay for four to six months while they build employment and/or educational skills and life skills and receive recovery support. They will be required to participate in intensive outpatient services, Valk stated. Treatment staff will be available for residents during business hours, and live-in managers will be available for support during off hours.

“The building’s community amenity space will consist of shared restrooms, laundry, lounge, kitchen, and dining spaces,” Valk stated.

Additional rooms will be provided for residents to meet with their families. Other rooms will be available for residents to meet with their peers in recovery.

Approximately 3,000 square feet of the ground floor will be dedicated to offices, storage space, and a maintenance shop.

“The exterior materials will remain consistent with the materials used on the adjacent Fora Health Treatment Center, including stained western red cedar, metal wall panel, composite shingle roof and aluminum storefront and entrances,” Valk stated.

A fenced-in courtyard will be available for residents’ use, and there will be new trees and off-street parking. The existing pedestrian path at the site’s north end will be maintained. The entry plaza will be extended so that it connects to the treatment center’s plaza.

The total project cost is $10 million, according to Holst Architecture.

The design team completed design development on March 21, Valk stated. The team expects a design review decision by the end of May and plans to submit for permitting shortly thereafter.

Construction is expected to start in January 2026 and finish by December 2026.

On the Boards is a DJC feature offering a look at projects in Oregon and Southwest Washington being tackled by local architecture firms. To have your firm’s projects considered, contact DJC reporter Hilary Dorsey at [email protected].