Portland organizations continue ‘fighting’ for upgraded Keller Auditorium
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Despite proposals to replace the Keller Auditorium with a new performing arts venue, Portland leaders and organizations are still pushing to invest in the historic building.
The Keller Auditorium was first constructed in 1917. Over a century later in 2020, a study revealed the need to renovate the building with seismic upgrades, improved restrooms and accessible seating.
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One possibility for renovation is a partnership between the Oregon Metro and the City of Portland with Halprin Landscape Conservancy to determine what a modernized version of the auditorium would look like.
Although a renovation is estimated to cost $267.2 million over 19 months starting in 2027, a Metro Council meeting on Tuesday morning showed that stakeholders haven’t wavered in their fight for a preserved Keller.
“In Portland, we do not demolish 100-year-old historic buildings — we restore them,” project co-chair Scott Andrews said. “And this is much more than a restoration, it is the creation of a new regional, programmable destination. By supporting the Keller, we can show that we believe in the future of the city.”
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Andrews noted that the venue is located within Portland’s downtown core, within walking distance from four-star hotels, off-street parking, public transit and dining options. He argued that neither of the auditorium’s proposed replacements would be able to match the resources that the current venue provides.
Last summer, eight different entities vied to build Portland’s next performing arts center. The city ultimately narrowed down to Portland State University and the Lloyd Center.
Andrews estimated that new building construction would cost $412.3 million, with an additional $105.1 million expected if a new parking structure is built as well.
The Downtown Portland Neighborhood Association, Portland Art Museum, and Oregon Ballet Theater — which would have to find a new home during Keller renovation — all supported the idea of upgrading the pre-existing building.
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“Our members live, work, run businesses and study in the downtown, the core of our city,” Downtown Neighborhood Association Board member Diana Stuart said. “We are still here fighting for this city we love. This stunning transformation of the Keller will have a catalytic impact on the downtown and the greater Portland region. It’s the win we need right now.”
All three venue design concepts will be presented to Portland City Council later in May.
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