Construction of a patient-care center and a biomedical research building will begin this fall at Oregon Health & Science University.

OHSU directors approved the plan this week. Expected to take 28 to 36 months, the $321 million project will be a joint venture between Portland's Hoffman Construction Co. and Andersen Construction Company Inc.

The 300,000-square-foot care center will be connected to a 400-space parking garage east of OHSU Hospital. The 250,000-square-foot research building will be in the campus's northwest section.

Financing sources include OHSU funds, private donations and the Oregon Opportunity, a combination of public and private money that includes a $200 million bond approved by Oregon voters to fund biomedical research at OHSU.

Ñ Mary Bellotti