Boschma Farms
Advanced Manufacturing Education in North Clark County
Clark College is building its next satellite location in Ridgefield, Washington. This building like the buildings at Columbia Tech Center and Washington State University Vancouver will allow our educational services to reach further into our service district. This building will feature state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing labs and classrooms. The vision for this site is to create a space that is flexible and can grow with emerging technologies in advanced manufacturing.
Current Progress
Mortenson Construction and Henneberry Eddy Architects were selected for Progressive Design-Build services on the first building at Boschma Farms: the Advanced Manufacturing Center.
Construction of the 49,000 square-foot building began June 2023 and is projected to be completed by Winter of 2024. Classes are projected to start in Fall 2025.
Visit Mortenson Construction's PageVisit Henneberry Eddy Architects' Page
Snapshot of progress – March 2024
Aerial view of Advanced Manufacturing building construction site looking southwest the main entry to the building from the parking lot. The masonry woven pattern is now visible.
Aerial view of Advanced Manufacturing building construction site, looking north from Pioneer Street.
Snapshot of progress – January 2024
Aerial view of Advanced Manufacturing building construction site from southeast corner looking northwest.
Building walls are partially complete and covered in blue all weather wrap.
Celebrating the ‘Topping Out’ – November 2023
Clark College, in collaboration with Mortenson, lead developer and design-builder, hosted a “topping out” ceremony at the Advanced Manufacturing Center, the first building being constructed at Clark College at Boschma Farms. The event celebrated the structure reaching its full height.
Nearly 100 attendees including the college mascot, Oswald the Penguin, watched as a blue-painted steel beam decorated with the U.S. flag and an evergreen tree symbolizing persistence, prosperity and longevity, were positioned at the structure’s pinnacle.
Read more about Boschma Farm's 'Topping Out' Ceremony
First Dig – June 2023
In a grassy field west of Ridgefield Junction, Clark College officials gathered at the site of the future Clark College at Boschma Farms site to commemorate the project’s “first dig” on June 12, 2023. The first dig kicked off the construction of the site’s first building, the Advanced Manufacturing Center, a 48,000 square-foot building projected to be ready for classes beginning Fall term 2025.
“We’re pleased to be here today for the first dig,” said Dr. Karin Edwards, Clark president. “This land has been blessed by the Cowlitz. During the last three years, there have been many conversations, a culmination of ideas flowing back and forth to get us here today.”
Artists Selected for Boschma Farms – May 2023
In partnership with the Washington State Arts Commission, Clark College Art Selection committee selected an artist for the Advanced Manufacturing Building for its Boschma Farms extension in Ridgefield. After a call for artist submissions, the committee selected emerging artist, Sarah Folden to lead a group of Native American artists to create public art for this new Clark College location.
Selected artists are Sarah Folden and Corbin Jones, Cowlitz tribal members; Brian Perry, Hopi-Cheelth; and RYAN! Feddersen, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.
Groundbreaking Ceremony – June 2022
June 1, 2022 Clark College hosted a groundbreaking for the new college location in Ridgefield, WA at Boschma Farms. Thank you to our community and our presenters: Cowlitz Drums Spiritual calling; Tanna Engdahl, Cowlitz Elder and spiritual leader; Dr. Karin Edwards, Clark College President; Chairwoman Patty Kinswa-Gaiser, Cowlitz Tribe; Paul Speer, Clark College Board Vice Chair; Lisa Gibert, Clark College Foundation CEO with Bernice Boschma; Jennifer Lindsay, Mayor of Ridgefield; Senator Annette Cleveland, Washington State’s 49th legislative district; Jennifer Lindsay, Mayor of Ridgefield; Carolyn Sizemore and Dan Johnson, Mortenson; Caleb White, Clark College Welding Faculty; and Claudia Carron, ASCC Vice President.
Why Boschma Farms
Hank and Bernice Boschma, originally from Holland, settled in Ridgefield in 1965 where they purchased land to start a dairy farm. While living there, each took a citizenship course at Clark in preparation for the national exam. Later, their daughter Gerry attended Clark. In 2014, seeking to help expand educational opportunities in the region, the Boschma family partnered with the Clark College Foundation to provide 60 acres for the north county location In June 2014, the Clark College Foundation announced a partnership with Ridgefield East 1 Associates, LLC. The 10 acres is adjacent to the Boschma tract and east end of I-5/SR 501 interchange, thereby serving as a gateway to the north Clark County facility.
