Anonymous $5M gift ignites Portland State Arena plan
A $5 million anonymous gift has kick-started a newly unveiled effort to renovate Portland State University's basketball arena.
The $44 million plan calls for a near down-to-the-studs remodel of the Peter W. Stott Center, the current home of the Portland State men's and women's basketball teams.
As subscribers can read in today's issue of the Business Journal, Portland State leaders want to build a glass-enclosed arena that faces the Park Blocks and gives pedestrians a look at the action inside the building. The current basketball court, on the other end of the building, would remain as a practice facility.
The renovated building would also serve as a "knowledge commons," said Portland State President Wim Wiewel.
Roughly 70 percent of the building's space would be dedicated to classrooms and informal meeting space for students, faculty and outside groups.
Wiewel said the project is part of Portland State's transformation from a commuter school to an "anchor institution" that provides meeting space for civic and cultural groups, a model that's increasingly popular with urban universities.
The $44 million project would be funded by $24 million in state bonds and $20 million in private donations. The private fundraising effort, led by Peter Stott, has already raised $8.1 million. State lawmakers will consider the request for bond funding next year.
The project ranks No. 6 on a list of 28 capital projects submitted to Gov. John Kitzhaber for inclusion in the state's next budget. Kitzhaber's proposed budget, scheduled for release in December, will give the first indication of whether the project will get bond funding.
If bond funding is approved, construction could begin in January 2014 and finish in November 2015.
What this particular person wants to do with their money is their business. If you Dudley Dorights want to donate to a "worthy" cause, do it your own selves >:0(
I hope they design it to accommodate hockey as well. I loved watching games when I was in college, it'd be nice to see PSU field a good hockey team also.
Too bad that money wasn't donated to Doernbechers to help sick kids. Something that really matters.
Maybe it's the $5 million that was going to go towards building a sodium fluoride toxic waste disposal facility somewhere in Portland's water supply circuit..
Obviously the taxpayer is being duped. On one hand, there is not enough funding for education and on the other hand, they want to bilk taxpayers for 26 million for a new building. And you know darn welll that the total cost of 44 mil will end up being at least 60 mil. No wonder college tuition keeps skyrocketing.
I thought you couldn't "ignite" anything on or near PSU campus anymore?
What wrong with the Memorial Coliseum? PSU can use that at no cost to remodel PSU stadium.Â
What a waste of money, it would be better spent on good teachers and helping keep costs down.
Who cares about PSU athletic programs? Â You can't give the tickets away. Â They'd be much better off spending money on improving their academic standards!
Would be better spent on academic programs. That's why students go to college, isn't it?
 @jpk Yes, but even high schools have gymnasiums.
But PE is not the same.