Portland City Council directs Halprin, PSU to explore ‘joint project’ for Keller Auditorium
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Future plans for the future of Portland’s Keller Auditorium took a turn as a resolution from the City of Portland is directing the minds behind two potential plans to combine their efforts.
The Keller is a key venue for Broadway, opera, and ballet, but the building is more than 100 years old. Additionally, it may not withstand a major earthquake, leading to several debates about the Keller’s future.
After three design proposals were presented to City Council for the first time in late May and over 60 members of the public testified, the city is now proposing Halprin Landscape Conservancy and Portland State University “explore the potential of a joint project.”
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The proposal from the volunteer nonprofit Halprin Landscape Conservancy would preserve the existing Keller Auditorium building on Southwest 3rd between Clay and Market, directly across from Keller Fountain.
A rendering of the Keller Auditorium’s proposed renovations from the Northwest facade and proposed Third Avenue plaza (Credit: Halprin Landscape Conservancy) A rendering of the proposed Keller Auditorium renovation from the building’s Southwest facade (Credit: Halprin Landscape Conservancy) Another rendering of the Keller Auditorium’s proposed renovations from the Northwest facade and proposed Third Avenue plaza (Credit: Halprin Landscape Conservancy)
Scott Andrews, a co-chair of the Halprin Landscape Conservancy, told KOIN 6 News they estimate a renovation cost of $267 million if they begin in 2027.
According to Andrews, renovation will provide “a 21st Century auditorium, new seating, new lighting, better acoustics, better loading, 20% additional square footage to the building where there will be restaurants, better backstage facilities, bars, restrooms. For the investment, we think it’s the best thing for the city to do.”
However, this proposal is not without concerns. Robyn Williams, Executive Director of Portland’5 Centers for the Arts, told KOIN 6 News that closing the venue for around a year and half would risk more than 300 jobs and millions of dollars in labor income.
“It would hurt us too much economically,” she said. “And plus, all the lost jobs would be a real big problem for us, so closing at all is not an option.”
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Portland State University’s proposal calls for building on their campus in the South Blocks on Southwest 1st and Lincoln. Their $385 million Portland Arts and Culture Center would include a 3000-seat auditorium, a hotel with restaurants, a conference center and an outdoor plaza. Further, there would be other upgrades to accommodate the university’s own arts programs.
Street view of PSU’s proposed Portland Arts + Culture Center designed by Bora Architects. (Courtesy Bora) Lobby view of PSU’s proposed Portland Arts + Culture Center designed by Bora Architects. (Courtesy Bora) Interior theater view of PSU’s proposed Portland Arts + Culture Center designed by Bora Architects. (Courtesy Bora) Side building view of PSU’s proposed Portland Arts + Culture Center designed by Bora Architects. (Courtesy Bora)
“The Number 1 reason why (to build a new facility) is that the show can go on,” PSU Foundation President Sarah Schwarz told KOIN 6 News. “A new space being built in a new location allows the Keller to keep on moving through performances, hiring the folks in the arts ecosystem — which still hasn’t fully recovered from the pandemic — while a new, bigger, better, modernized ready-for-the-next-100 years arts center can happen at the PSU site.”
The third proposal would have involved rebuilding the Keller across the Willamette River in the Lloyd District. The Urban Renaissance Group, which owns the Lloyd Center mall, additionally proposed bringing in a theater along with new homes, offices and restaurants.
Urban Renaissance Group is not mentioned as a collaborating partner in the resolution.
In a statement released on Friday, Halprin said, in part, “We are eager to replace competition with collaboration.”
PSU president Ann Cudd echoed that sentiment, saying she “applauds Portland City Council for developing the resolution and actively seeking a win-win solution.”
City Council is set to review the combined plans from Halprin and PSU in October.
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