A new home for visual arts at PSU

A landmark facility for Portland's creative hub

This Fall, the Portland arts community welcomes a brand-new, purpose-built home for Portland State University’s Jordan Schnitzer School of Art + Art History + Design. Every floor of the new four-story building features light-filled, high-tech spaces, studios, classrooms, labs and galleries designed for creativity and collaboration.

Graphic Design students laughing together while sitting at a studio table

Putting students at the heart of the design process

The vision of the school is to enable imaginative thinking unbound by traditional structures, exporting creativity across campus. Dr. Amara Perez, equity and inclusion consultant, led 15 BIPOC art and design students to create “Spatial Aspirations," informing the project design to support educational equity.

Read about the design process

The timber frame of the new home for the Jordan Schnitzer School of Art + Art History + Design. Photo by Mark Stein

Sustainably and regionally sourced design

Designed by LEVER Architecture, the construction features Northwest mass timber -- engineered wood components produced through cutting-edge building technology. The 100,000 square-foot building is the first structure on the PSU campus to be constructed of mass timber.

More about mass timber production

Take a peek inside

Architects' rendering of the Catalyst Lab, a state-of-the-art space for emerging and experimental technology.

The Creative Suite offers a space for students and faculty to collaborate.

Architects' rendering of the Creative Suite, a space for students and faculty to collaborate.

Architects' rendering of the view of the work yard, shown from the interior.

Architects' rendering of the building exterior, showing the work yard.

Join the Celebration

Grand Opening Celebration

October 13, 2026

Join us for the grand opening celebration for the new home of the Schnitzer School of Art + Art History + Design, Tuesday, October 13, 4pm to 8pm.

Learn more about the event

A man in a suit stands at a podium in front of a microphone, smiling

The School's Namesake

The Jordan Schnitzer School of Art + Art History + Design is named in honor of Jordan Schnitzer and the Schnitzer Family Foundation for their longstanding support, including a $10 million donation to support arts education and access at PSU.