This research paper describes an SEE (Structural Engineering Encounter) Lab project. The paper reports on the development of a single-story, single-bay portal frame model as part of the AIMS 2 (attract, inspire, mentor and support students) grant supported through the US DOE (Department of Education) summer research program at California State University, Northridge. This research effort is part of a comprehensive program to develop laboratory models of structures commonly encountered in civil engineering practice, which can serve the dual purpose of accomplishing engineering education and research in the areas of structural and earthquake engineering. The objective of the present study was to construct a physical model of the aforementioned frame to experimentally collect data due to the application of vertical and lateral loadings through instrumentation such as strain gages and an LVDT (linear variable differential transformer) displacement transducer, and also to make comparisons with theoretical and numerical predictions.