Construction is underway on a 120,000-square-foot multiuse pandemic response center on the Expo grounds in Central Point next to the Rogue Valley Family Fun Center.

Ground work began after the 2024 Jackson County Fair, which ran July 16-21.

Ryan DeSautel, facilities director for the county, said work was started as early in the summer as possible to keep the project on schedule — before winter weather sets in — and on budget.

DeSautel said this week that the project was “on track, with no unanticipated surprises.”

The county will operate the facility, estimated to cost $60 million, as a hub for managing regional emergencies while the city of Central Point will utilize a third of the structure as a long-awaited community center.

Jackson County commissioners approved an intergovernmental agreement with the city of Central Point in early July.

The building will include a large commercial kitchen and shower facilities. It could be used for purposes ranging from aid distribution to vaccination clinics to temporary shelter.

The need for a centralized response center, county officials said, was made clear during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 and the massively destructive Almeda and South Obenchain fires that occurred later that year.

For non-emergency use, the facility will provide overflow space for Expo activities, as well as a location for sporting events and other large events. The main floor has eight full-size basketball courts, two of which will be used for Central Point after-school programs, community learning workshops and activities.

The city of Central Point will have a 35-year initial lease for its portion of the facility.

DeSautel said a Guaranteed Maximum Price for the project will be determined by November “as we are still working on the final design of some of the building envelope and interior details.”

Funding for the project was approved as part of the county’s annual budget process in June. The county will use a combination of $39,046,207 from the federal American Rescue Plan Act and approximately $21 million in general fund reserves.

The project design came from ORW Architecture, which was granted a $3.8-million contract last February. The city of Central Point, which plans to share construction costs, pitched in $1.1 million, roughly 30% of the design cost.