LA GRANDE — This building lacks identifying signs but not a unique story.

It is the concession stand and restroom structure at Sunset Drive and K Avenue, one starting its first full calendar year of operation after opening in April 2023. It was built with funding from Grande Ronde Hospital by Bouten Construction Co., of Richland, Washington, which is constructing a $72.5 million, 96,000-square foot building for the medical center.

GRH funded the construction of the concession stand and restrooms as a gesture of thanks to the La Grande School District for allowing Bouten to occupy a 1.1-acre site at Sunset Drive and K Avenue while doing its construction.

The La Grande School District is not charging GRH for use of the land, which is in the process of being sold to the hospital. However, George Mendoza, superintendent of the La Grande School District, did ask the hospital for help in getting a concession stand and restroom built in the Sunset Drive and K Avenue site.

“This is something we have wanted for seven years,” he said.

Mendoza said it was needed because the site is very close to La Grande High School’s tennis courts and track, where many events are conducted. Mendoza said he is grateful for how the hospital stepped up to assist in such a big way.

“Grande Ronde Hospital has been a great partner,” he said.

Elaine La Rochelle, director of facilities at Grande Ronde Hospital, said the hospital wanted to address an important need for the school district when showing its gratitude for the use of its property.

“We wanted to do something meaningful,” she said. “Having the land for the staging of the building project was so important for us. We wanted to give back in a meaningful way.”

La Rochelle said the building is important for the La Grande School District because no restroom or concession facilities are near the high school track. This meant that before it was difficult for the school district to host track meets. One reason was that portable restrooms had to be brought in for meets. La Rochelle said she is glad the school district will no longer have to deal with the expense of bringing them in.

The building features four restrooms on its west side and a concession stand and equipment storage room on its east side.

Keegon Shepherd, a project engineer for Bouten, said his company was glad to assist with the project.

“Ten years from now nobody will remember who built it, but we know that people will be using it. That is what is important to us,” he said.

Shepherd said Bouten wants to help communities it does projects in.

“We want to leave communities better off than they were when we came,” he said.

The concession stand and restroom building is made of concrete masonry units, which are made of concrete mixtures.

“It is built to last,” Shepherd said.

The structure is also built for year round use — each of its four restrooms are well insulated and have small ceiling heaters, Shepherd said.

The restrooms’ locks are electrically operated by timers, which can open and lock at specific times.

The building’s restrooms will be open during events near the site, but are being kept closed in between events after being vandalized earlier, Mendoza said.