Benson Towers

Portland, Oregon

Precision Planning Restores Reliability at Benson Towers

Located in Portland’s scenic South Park Blocks, Benson Towers is a 26-story condominium building in the city’s cultural district. After discovering that plumbing couplings installed by a previous contractor were degrading prematurely, the ownership team turned to Charter Construction to investigate, verify the cause, and ultimately perform the extensive repairs needed to restore the system’s integrity.

Building Type

Condominiums

Work

Re-Pipe

Scope

Water damage mitigation and extensive repiping

The Challenge

Charter was initially hired to inspect and assess widespread coupling failures throughout the 155-unit high-rise. The investigation revealed poor workmanship by the original contractor, leading to a successful legal case and settlement for the ownership group. When it came time to perform the repairs, the HOA again selected Charter—trusted for their proven expertise and competitive bid.

The project required replacing hundreds of faulty couplings throughout the building while maintaining occupancy. A critical component of the work involved a 48-hour full-building water shutdown, demanding meticulous coordination and intensive labor planning to minimize impact on residents.

The Solution

Charter’s team developed a detailed implementation plan months in advance, mapping coupling locations, exposing piping paths, and coordinating with plumbing subcontractors. During the 48-hour shutdown, 65 plumbers and 8 Charter staff members worked simultaneously to complete the first phase of repairs—restoring water service on time.

The following phase replaced an additional 600 couplings within individual units over three months. Charter systematically accessed, replaced, and restored each coupling while keeping residents informed through proactive communication. Once repairs were complete, the HOA extended Charter’s contract to repaint corridors and refresh the building’s common areas.

The Benefit of the Result

The Benson Towers project was completed on schedule and within budget, with all plumbing systems restored to reliable, long-term performance. Through careful planning, transparent communication, and expert execution, Charter Construction delivered a seamless solution that strengthened the building’s infrastructure and renewed the community’s confidence in their home.

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