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After a decade of planning, the $45 million renovation and expansion of Portland State University‘s Peter W. Stott Center is almost ready to roll.

Renovations are in store for the building’s west portion, where maintenance has been delayed. The east portion will be reconstructed with a new multipurpose arena, the Viking Pavilion; it will hold approximately 3,400 seats 鈥� almost twice as many as the existing arena. In total, 138,500 square feet will be either renovated or added.

The project, developed by PSU and designed by Woofter Architecture and Denver-based Sink Combs Dethlefs Architects, last week received its first design review. The project wasn’t approved, because of two adjustments; a second review is slated for March 24.

Issues to be resolved are design of the concourse level at the north elevation facing Southwest Hall Street as well as increased ground-floor glazing with more active use at the corners. The project is also awaiting approval from the Portland Bureau of Environmental Services.

The existing three-level Stott Center is not welcoming for pedestrians and does nothing for the South Park Blocks’ public spaces, city planner Grace Jeffreys said. The new design, she added, will be a big improvement.

鈥淚t has the potential to turn inward-focused into what could be outward-focused and a building with vitality,鈥� she said.

Dan Zalkow, associate vice president for planning and construction at PSU, called the Stott Center 鈥渙ne of the ugliest buildings on campus.鈥� He is looking forward to its transformation.

鈥淭he plans have been in the works for 10 years and we’re excited to transform this eastern half and open it up to the park blocks,鈥� he said.

The transformed building will include a student lounge on the first level; a caf茅 and classrooms with athletic uses on the second level and the arena on the third. No provisions for vehicle parking are planned, but more bike parking will be added.

Woofter Architecture principal Miles Woofter told commissioners the site is actually a superblock, but 鈥渢he building turns its back on the park (blocks).鈥�

鈥淎 lot of the existing structure is being maintained, but (when complete) you can see through the entire building from the concourse area,鈥� he said.

The renovation will also bring all PSU athletic offices under one roof, he added.

The building will have three public frontages with full glazing at the corners, said Jonathan Bolch of Woofter Architecture. The size of a canopy planned around the building has been increased from four feet to 10, he added.

鈥淲e are prioritizing the pedestrian experience,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t will connect to the park and you can see all the way through the building.鈥�

Lights on the wooden underside of the Viking Arena will be visible from the street and change colors, depending on the event.

鈥淚t’s a metaphor for a Viking ship,鈥� Bolch said.

$300,000 will be devoted to an art project for the building, Bolch said, but just what that will be has not been determined. He said the design team will confer with the Regional Arts and Culture Council in the near future.

Commissioner Tad Savinar shared a suggestion for the art budget.

鈥淚 would encourage you to spend it all on one thing and not sprinkle it out,鈥� he said.