Morrow County School District Completes Preliminary Design Phase for Bond Projects

New and renovated schools in Boardman, Irrigon, Heppner, and Lexington to reflect local community identities

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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The Morrow County School District has announced the completion of the preliminary design phase for three major voter-approved bond projects, including the replacement of Irrigon Junior/Senior High School, the renovation of Riverside Junior/Senior High School in Boardman, and the conversion of the Heppner Jr Sr High building into a K-12 campus. The Design Advisory Committee, comprising community members, students, and school staff, worked with architects to shape the vision for the projects and ensure the new facilities reflect the unique characteristics of each local community.

Why it matters

These bond-funded projects represent a significant investment in the educational infrastructure of Morrow County, providing modern, functional, and welcoming spaces for students, staff, and the broader community. The collaborative design process aims to create schools that not only meet the district's educational needs but also serve as hubs of community identity and pride.

The details

Over the past several months, the Design Advisory Committee reviewed design concepts, including 3D-printed models, to help visualize how the new and renovated spaces will look and function. The committee also participated in an imagery workshop to guide the aesthetic direction of each school, ensuring the buildings reflect the local geography, culture, and traditions. The preliminary design phase has laid the groundwork for the next steps in the architectural work, with the Irrigon Junior/Senior High School project moving directly into schematic design, while the Boardman and Heppner projects will briefly pause before entering that phase later this year.

  • The Design Advisory Committee completed its final meeting on February 24, 2026.
  • SĀJ Architecture will compile the committee's feedback into a final report to the district in April 2026.
  • The district plans to share updates with the community in May 2026.

The players

Morrow County School District

The public school district serving Morrow County, Oregon, which is overseeing the bond-funded projects to replace and renovate several schools.

Design Advisory Committee

A group of community members, students, and school staff representing Boardman, Irrigon, Heppner, and Lexington who have been shaping the vision for the bond projects.

SĀJ Architecture

The architectural firm that has been facilitating the design process and presenting design concepts to the Design Advisory Committee.

Wenaha Group

The project management partner working with the Morrow County School District on the bond-funded projects.

Matt Combe

The Superintendent of the Morrow County School District.

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What they’re saying

“People experience and visualize design in different ways. We wanted to take the DAC's previous work from two dimensions to three so everyone could better understand how spaces relate to each other, especially in a multilevel school like Heppner.”

— Seth Anderson, Principal Architect, SĀJ Architecture (Hermiston Herald)

“Defining a concept means identifying a core idea that tells a story of how the spaces are organized and materials are selected, and how the building reflects the community.”

— Amy Vohs, Principal Architect, SĀJ Architecture (Hermiston Herald)

“The preliminary design phase has been a wonderful collaborative process and is setting these projects up for success. Our DAC members, architects, and project partners have worked thoughtfully and intentionally to create functional, safe, and welcoming spaces that our students, staff, and communities will be proud of for generations to come.”

— Matt Combe, Superintendent, Morrow County School District (Hermiston Herald)

What’s next

SĀJ Architecture will compile the Design Advisory Committee's feedback into a final report to the Morrow County School District in April 2026, and the district plans to share updates with the community in May 2026. The Irrigon Junior/Senior High School project will continue directly into schematic design, while the Boardman and Heppner projects will briefly pause before entering that phase later this year.

The takeaway

The Morrow County School District's collaborative design process for its bond-funded school projects aims to create modern, functional, and community-centric facilities that reflect the unique identities of the local towns and neighborhoods. This approach ensures the new and renovated schools will serve as hubs of pride and engagement for students, staff, and the broader community for years to come.