Trades Facility Construction
Oregon Coast Advanced Technology & Trades (OCATT) Center
Currently Under Construction in Newport
Funded by Lincoln County voters in May 2024
Project Highlights: October 2026
OCATT’s transformation from frame to finished building is picking up speed. The roof is now fully weathered in — ADLT panels installed, vapor barrier down, and straps going on — while crews work through waterproofing and interior wall framing, and visqueen barriers protect the storefront openings ahead of the building’s “dry-in” later this month. Roofing and siding installation begin this month too, with utility work following close behind. The building remains on track for equipment move-in in March 2027 and occupancy in June 2027. Elsewhere, HVAC, access controls, and security systems are now installed in all buildings, though the general contractor is working through a round of unexpected repairs, programming fixes, and design discrepancies before formally closing out that work. Design continues on the final phase of renovations to the Central Campus and North Center — commons updates, a kitchen expansion, bookstore and library improvements, and new lactation rooms — with design wrapping up in December ahead of construction next summer to complete the bond program voters approved in May 2024.
By the Numbers (as of October 2026)
- $46.8M — total bond program funding to date (bond sale + state matching grant + other income)
- $39.8M — committed to contracts and design across all bond projects
- $21.1M — spent to date (53% of committed costs)
- June 2027 — target completion for OCATT occupancy
- $2.4M+ — invested in local Lincoln County contractors so far, including Ground FX Landscaping, JCC Construction, Three Rocks Electrical & Plumbing, and RK Excavation
The OCATT Project: Trades Education & More for Lincoln County
On May 21, 2024, voters in Lincoln County approved a bond measure referred by OCCC to build a center for trades education and update and upgrade existing college facilities.
Initial plans for the Oregon Coast Advanced Technology & Trades (OCATT) Center were first drafted in 2017. The center will greatly expand pre-apprenticeship training and programming for county residents, as well as offer a variety of certificates and degrees in the marine, technical, and construction trades. All proposed OCATT programming will ultimately be subject to NWCCU approval, as well as demand and feasibility assessments. As of summer 2026, programs anticipated for the building’s first years of operation include the following (note: any program launched must first receive approval from various entities including the College’s accrediting agency, the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities):
- Construction/Carpentry Skills Development
- Pre-Apprenticeship
- Industrial Facilities Maintenance
- Maritime Technology (Broad: May include Refrigeration, Marine Diesel, Electronics, etc.)
- HVAC
- Welding
In the May ’24 election, Lincoln County notched a 40% voter turnout and the measure passed overwhelmingly, with 64.59% votes in favor (10,065 for vs. 5,518 against). Subsequently, the OCCC Board of Education approved a Bond Authorization. On Sept. 11, 2025, the College and community celebrated the groundbreaking.
Facilities, Furnishings, Safety, and Modernization
Plans for the portion of the levy proceeds to be invested in the College’s existing facilities were informed by a 2023 facilities needs assessment study, performed by GLAS Architects. These projects include safety and facilities modernization and upgrades, some remodeling and improvement of student study spaces and furnishings. A priority project, re-roofing the Central County Campus building in Newport, was identified in this Needs Assessment, and was substantially completed by October 2024. Roof replacement, including a solar array that is expected to generate 99% of the building’s electricity use each year, is underway at the North County Center in Lincoln City during the summer of 2026. Check back for updates as additional projects are completed.
Thank You for Your Involvement
OCCC thanks the dozens of groups and individuals who hosted College staff and representatives, as well as members of the all-volunteer “Friends of OCCC” political action committee, for public presentations on Measure 21-224, during which speakers fielded hundreds of questions about the college’s plans, the structure and scope of the 21-year levy, and more.
If you belong to a club or organization that may want to hear updates about the ongoing construction and planning for the pre-apprenticeship trades education facility and programs, email occc@oregoncoast.edu.