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Design work for a project to convert Washington High School in Southeast Portland into a community center is stalled temporarily while the school district decides when to issue an RFP for the project.

According to Kurt Schulz of SERA Architects, his company can’t move forward with design issues, such as land use, until a developer has been chosen by Portland Public Schools.

“The school district is thinking of doing an RFP or RFQ to redevelop the building,” Schulz said. “We really need that developer to be able to work with them and finalize all of the plans so we can finalize our design concept.”

Though Art DeMuro of Venerable Properties has expressed interest in redeveloping the structure into a community center with housing, PPS still must go through a formal RFP process. There is no date set yet for the RFP to be issued.

In the meantime, the city of Portland has agreed to extend SERA Architects’ contract and pay the firm an additional $29,189 to continue design work. KPFF Consulting Engineers and Peter Meijer Architect have also been brought on as consultants for the project.