PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland is exploring whether to renovate the current Keller Auditorium or build a new one on a different site. With the last of the three proposals submitted to Portland City Council, the official evaluation process to decide the fate of the landmark performing arts center begins.
Two out of three proposals call for a new performing arts center to be built; the other would be a massive redevelopment of the current Keller Auditorium.
Members of the public will have an opportunity to give feedback on the proposals at the city council meeting on Wednesday.
Lloyd District proposal
Outside downtown Portland, Urban Renaissance Group is proposing a Keller Auditorium replacement at the heart of its plan to convert the 29-acre Lloyd Center into a new vibrant neighborhood.
In the fall, Urban Renaissance Group unveiled its grand plan to tear down the near-silent Lloyd Center and replace it with up to 5,000 new homes, offices, retailers, restaurants, entertainment venues and parks.
The proposal for the Lloyd District proposal includes a variety of venues from 1,200 to 3,000-seat theaters, a mix of plazas, an outdoor performance space and retail spaces. It would also potentially have a mixed-use tower onsite that could provide housing, hotels, artist studios or additional retail and commercial space, according to the proposal.
The total estimated cost for the proposal is nearly $430 million, if construction starts in early 2027, according to plan documents.
Portland State University’s proposal
Portland State University is proposing to build a new Keller Auditorium on a little bit over four-acre site on Southwest Lincoln Street in downtown Portland — six blocks away from the current venue.
The performing arts center would have a 3,000-seat auditorium capable of hosting a large-scale Broadway show and a secondary 1,200-seat auditorium. It will also include a hotel with 150 rooms; a large conference space; and up to 40,000 square feet of office space for nonprofits and arts organizations, according to the proposal.
One of the key advantages of relocating is that a performance can continue at the current Keller Auditorium while the new performing arts center is built. The estimated cost of the PSU proposal is over $220 million; that’s just for the 1,200-seat venue, the hotel and conference center and parking. The cost estimate for the main 3,000-seat theater has not yet been reported.
Renovation proposal
The proposal from Halprin Landscape Conservancy calls for turning the over 100-year-old venue into a state-of-the-art performing arts center, complete with a grand fountain. The terms “catalyst” and “renaissance” are used frequently in the plan documents to describe the effect the proposal could have on revitalizing downtown Portland.
The redevelopment would include new and improved food and drink vendor options; a 3,000-seat main performance theater; a smaller new 150-seat performance space; and expanded rehearsal areas.
There are two costs and construction length options for the renovation one would cost an estimated $236 million and take the performing arts center offline for 28 months during construction. The other would be an accelerated 19-month option — but would cost roughly $267 million due to the additional overtime and double shifts needed for construction crews to make the reduced construction timeline doable, according to the design plan submitted.
