In preparation for a presentation to city council at the end of this month, Portland State University submitted a detailed analysis of its updated proposal for the Portland Performing Arts + Culture Center, including new images of the proposed design from Bora, PSU’s architecture partner on the project proposal.
“PSU has had hundreds of conversations with arts and culture organizations and patrons from across the region,” said PSU President Ann Cudd. “Their input has helped us shape our proposal for the Portland Performing Arts + Culture Center into something that will truly inspire our city for generations to come. We are excited to take this bold proposal to the city on May 29.”
Based on feedback and with a driving goal of contributing to downtown Portland’s renaissance, Portland State has evolved its initial proposal into an exciting, multi-use arts and culture complex. PSU’s plan is designed to spark development in the downtown core, bring the biggest Broadway shows to Portland, support Oregon’s diverse arts organizations, help foster cultural equity, enhance regional arts education, showcase sustainable building practices and leverage Portland State University — the city’s bustling urban university.
The new renderings highlight PSU’s plan to use mass timber, green roofs and other sustainable technologies. The images also show off the design’s uniquely Northwest appeal with skylights and ample natural lighting to bring the feeling of the great outdoors directly into the lobby.
PSU’s Portland Arts + Culture Center proposal features:
- A 4.25 acre site on Southwest Lincoln Street in downtown Portland six blocks from the current Keller along the Halprin Open Space Sequence, a series of historically and architecturally significant fountains and pedestrian walkways.
- A state-of-the art 3,000-seat auditorium with superior load-in and load-out capacity to accommodate the largest scale Broadway shows of today and tomorrow.
- A second 1,200-seat auditorium to fill a critical gap in Portland’s performing arts ecosystem.
- A 150-room on-site hotel to activate the complex at all times, not just during showtimes.
- Up to 18,000 square feet of conference space to provide the downtown conference facilities that Portland needs.
- Additional educational space to support PSU’s academic programs and connect to its stellar arts and culture resources.
- Up to 40,000 square feet of office space for nonprofits and arts organizations to establish residency and collaborate.
- A full-service restaurant, bar, terrace, plaza and flexible spaces to serve visitors and patrons and to enliven downtown.
- A leading-edge, climate-resilient design utilizing mass timber and the latest in sustainable technology.
- Between 500 and 740 on-site underground parking spaces, and proximity to more than 1,640 spaces within 5 blocks — with direct access to alternative transportation options, including MAX, bus lines, streetcar and secure bike parking.
“Our comprehensive proposal is possible because PSU owns the largest single parcel of developable property in downtown Portland, a site four times larger than the existing Keller Auditorium’s one block footprint,” said PSU Associate Vice President for Planning, Construction and Real Estate at Portland State University Jason Franklin. “Adding the second, smaller venue to the mix really adds a key ingredient that’s been missing from our arts ecosystem.”
“It’s been exciting to watch this proposal evolve so quickly into something that will be truly transformative for downtown Portland,” said Michael Tingley, Principal with Bora. “A performing arts center on the University Place Hotel site would energize the entire Halprin Sequence of signature outdoor spaces and unlock a number of compelling redevelopment opportunities — including that of the existing Keller, which is a site that could be activated with any number of new uses that would also provide stronger connections to the Keller fountain.”
“The economic impact of this proposed project can not be overstated,” said Andrew Colas, CEO of Colas Construction. “This opens up a new area of downtown that is ripe for development and sends a strong signal to the market that Portland is open for business.”