by President Ann Cudd
November 15, 2023
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At the end of last week we were notified that PSU’s proposal to build a new, world class performing arts venue on our campus was advanced by Portland city officials for further consideration and presentation to Portland City Council next year.
As I shared with you last month, our proposal includes a 3,000-seat auditorium, an outdoor plaza, an on-site boutique hotel, a conference center and educational facilities that would be built on the current site of our University Place Hotel. It will replace the seismically challenged Keller Auditorium while keeping Portland’s premiere arts venue downtown and providing a catalyst for further development in the central city.
It will also provide tremendous opportunities for Portland State, opening up the possibility for new and expanded academic programs that align with the performing arts and entertainment industries. What it doesn’t do is have any effect on PSU’s education and general fund or budget planning.
PSU will receive a $50,000 grant from the city to further refine and expand our planning for the auditorium project and the team will engage with community partners and arts organizations to ensure the plan reflects our inclusive values. It is our intention that a facility on our campus would improve access to performing arts for a wider audience, provide significant experiences for our students, and offer a venue that is alive and energized throughout the year, not just during showtimes.
Our plan was one of eight reviewed by city officials during an interview stage and was advanced along with another proposal for a venue at the current site of the Lloyd Center mall. A proposal to remodel the existing Keller Auditorium is also under consideration.
I am grateful for everyone at PSU who is spending time on our plan and I look forward to cheering on the effort as our proposal goes to a decision by the city council, which is expected to take place in the summer of 2024. Should the PSU site win out, we will be celebrating the grand opening of a spectacular new venue with the first performances in 2030!