Oregon State to Add Arts and Education Complex

Oregon State University in Corvallis will be getting a new Arts and Education facility. The university's board of trustees recently approved construction of the $70 million complex, which will host performing arts classes, programs and performances on the campus in a 500-seat concert hall.

The 49,000-square-foot complex will include classrooms, offices, performance theaters and rehearsal rooms. It's expected to open during the 2022-2023 academic year. Discussions for the new building started in 2017; at that time, the cost was set at $60 million.

Oregon State to Add Arts and Education Complex

“This nationally best-in-class arts and education complex will be a transformative addition to Oregon State University, the Willamette Valley and all of Oregon,” said university President, F. King Alexander, in a statement. “The complex will serve as a center of creativity and will fuse programs in music, theater, visual and digital arts and technology."

Funding for the complex came from a $25 million anonymous gift, $10 million in other donations and $35 million in state bonds.

The board also approved renovations to two buildings: $16.35 million for Fairbanks Hall, the second oldest building on the Corvallis campus, whose 26,000-square-foot wood structure includes classrooms, offices and gallery space serving the College of Liberal Arts; and $6 million for Graf Hall, where the College of Engineering’s robotics program is situated.

The institution said the Fairbanks Hall work was intended to improve teaching, learning and gallery spaces and update seismic, access and HVAC systems to meet current code requirements. The Graf Hall renovation will expand the facilities for the Collaborative Robotics and Intelligent Systems Institute and upgrade bathrooms, as well as plumbing, mechanical and electrical systems.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • University of Kentucky Sees Positive Results from Energy Efficiency Program

    The University of Kentucky in Lexington, Ky., recently announced the results of its Energy Program in Facilities Management, put into place eight years ago, according to a news release. Between the fiscal years of 2017 and 2025, the university’s campus grew by 13.6% while the energy use per square foot dropped by 19.2%.

  • Georgia High School Debuts 500-Seat Esports Arena

    Cass High School in Bartow County, Ga., recently announced the opening of a new, 7,000-square-foot Esports Arena, according to a news release. The Bartow County School System partnered with Extron AV Technology on the project.

  • Zurn Releases New Ductile Iron Frame Trench Drain System

    Zurn Elkay Water Solutions recently released the newest addition to its Train Drench portfolio, the Ductile Iron Frame Trench Drain System, according to a news release. The product is designed for heavy-duty applications like airports, military, universities, and more.

  • Pfluger Architects Announces Promotions of Seven Staff Members

    Texas-based architecture firm Pfluger Architects recently announced that it has promoted seven staff members to senior-level positions. One of the promotions is that of Dallas-based Senior Project Architect Chad Martin to Principal, according to a news release.

Digital Edition