Columbia County – John Gumm Building, Historic Renovation

The historic renovation of the John Gumm Building will provide Columbia County with much needed space for the various departments they support. The existing structure is 28,400 sf and will receive major improvements to the interior and exterior. Project scope also includes a new elevator and updates to existing plumbing, electrical, fire sprinkler, and mechanical systems.

Once completed, the first floor will include a 1,700 sf auditorium for public meetings with an attached catering kitchen and office space for Columbia Economic Team (CET), Columbia County’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC), and the nonprofit Columbia-Pacific Economic Development District, also known as Col-Pac. Additionally, the first floor will provide 1,400 sf space for the relocated Columbia County museum, which will offer more space, accessibility, and environmental control protections for their collections. Finally, the basement and second floor will provide office space for various departments for Columbia County, including human resources, board of county commissioners, county counsel, and the juvenile department.

The first school building on the site was built in 1884, named St. Helens High School, before it tragically burned down in 1916. The replacement building, now bearing John Gumm’s name, was completed in 1919 and served as a school until closed in 1999. Due to the high cost of a seismic rehabilitation, it remained vacant for years until Columbia County acquired the building with plans for a modernization to address the County’s growing needs.