Six years after initial discussions surfaced about an Old Town Chinatown location for the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine (OCOM), the new campus is open for business.

OCOM’s campus at N.W. Naito Parkway and Couch Street — the site of the former Globe Hotel and Import Plaza — is the latest chapter of the area’s redevelopment. Additions and changes in the Old Town Chinatown neighborhood include Bud Clark Commons, Mercy Corps Headquarters, the University of Oregon’s White Stag Building, Saturday Market, Portland Fire & Rescue Station #1, and Tom McCall Waterfront Park, among others.

The new, state-of-the-art facility brings OCOM’s specialty in traditional Chinese healing arts to the heart of Portland. One of the oldest Chinese medicine colleges in the United States, OCOM is widely respected as one of the best acupuncture schools in the nation. Its doctoral program in acupuncture and Chinese medicine is one of the first such programs established in the U.S. The new campus provides the college with a leading-edge academic clinic and research facility, classrooms, and learning spaces.

OCOM purchased the building from the Portland Development Commission a year ago, after which renovations on the 100-year-old building began in earnest. The Naito family previously owned the Globe Hotel in historic Old Town, a building listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Anne Naito-Campbell, a principal of the Bill Naito Company, is proud of the collaboration that brought the school to Old Town Chinatown.

"It is a very auspicious occurrence that OCOM has come to the heart of the city. OCOM teaches ancient medicinal practices from Asia and provides some of the most cost-effective affordable healthcare at their brand new 17-room teaching clinic," said Naito-Campbell. "OCOM is also studying the use of Chinese acupuncture and Japanese shiatsu deep-tissue massage therapy for wellness and aging, post-traumatic stress for veterans, as well as drug and alcohol addictions treatment."

Renovation of the building cost $15.2 million. It was funded with a complex financing package of federal and state tax credits, contributed equity, the sale of OCOM’s former campus, loans, and a Transit-Oriented Development grant through Metro. The development project created approximately 110 construction jobs.

It is estimated that the building will bring about 400 people to Old Town Chinatown per day — patients, guests, students, and faculty alike. Over time, the college hopes to add 10 permanent full-time positions and up to 15 part-time positions on the campus.

Portland Development Commission chairman Scott Andrews credits the commitment of OCOM leadership in working hand-in-hand with public and private partners to make the vision for a downtown campus a reality.

"One of the most significant aspects of the project was that it was designed, financed, and built during one of the worst economic recessions. Now, we’re all witness to the transformation of the Globe Hotel into this incredible facility. This historic building, built in 1911, has been revitalized and restored to its old glory. The ability to create this state-of-the-art facility while remaining faithful to the history of the building is no small feat," said Andrews.

Incorporating "green" building components, the campus achieved a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification for sustainable building. OCOM’s new campus joins 140 other LEED-certified buildings in the region. The building received high marks for sustainably renovating the existing structure rather than tearing it down and building a new structure from scratch. Construction reused existing building stock, maintaining 75 percent of the existing walls, floors, and roof.

The new campus prioritized the use of public transportation for 300-plus faculty, staff, and students, providing bicycle storage and changing rooms. Installation of a "green roof" — which consists of drought-resistant plants and water-efficient landscaping — will reduce stormwater runoff and lower cooling costs. Low-flow toilets, showers, and sinks will reduce water use by 30 percent.

Many people experiencing homelessness are uninsured and have little to no access to quality healthcare. Beyond its green building accolades, OCOM’s new campus allows students and faculty to serve people experiencing homelessness through the "Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Health Care Access Project." The project is developed in partnership with Bud Clark Commons and Transition Projects, Inc., which supports people transitioning from homelessness into housing opportunities. People utilizing the Bud Clark Commons Day Center can access free group acupuncture treatments.

Studies have shown that acupuncture is an effective treatment for common conditions affecting people experiencing homelessness, including anxiety, insomnia, body aches, and depression. Emerging research also indicates that acupuncture may be effective in addressing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a prevalent condition among Portland’s homeless veterans.

Sam Chase, executive director of the Coalition of Community Health Clinics, lauds OCOM’s partnership with safety-net clinics and local nonprofits to make Traditional Chinese Medicine accessible to the most vulnerable.

"As a coalition, we are very concerned about how to move forward health transformation in PURR [Planning and University Research Registry] communities. We want to make sure that folks who are uninsured, on Medicaid, and at very low income levels are being taken care of," said Chase.

"Our partnership with OCOM is a step in the right direction as we work toward keeping people out of emergency rooms, out of the hospital, out of needing that expensive care," Chase continued. "Together, our work on health transformation will focus on investing in prevention."

For Portlanders interested in trying out Traditional Chinese Medicine treatments, low-cost acupuncture and herbal consultations are available at the new campus, as well as at the Hollywood Clinic in northeast Portland and the Cherry Blossom Clinic in southeast Portland. Acupuncture sessions conducted by interns cost $25 per visit. Master’s program students can also help develop customized Chinese herbal formulas through the OCOM Herbal Medicinary, which is the largest of its kind in the Pacific Northwest.

To learn more about OCOM’s offerings, call (503) 253-3443 or visit <www.ocom.edu>.