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The city of Portland is continuing to weigh the possibility of renovating Keller Auditorium versus building a new performing arts facility.

Keller Auditorium is Portland鈥檚 largest performing arts facility. It鈥檚 owned by the city of Portland and operated by Portland鈥�5 Centers for the Arts 鈥� a service of Metro. Following a 2020聽聽that underscored the need for structural upgrades at Keller Auditorium, the city聽and Metro began evaluating possible next steps.

Through next year, city leaders will consider options for ensuring that large-scale theatrical performances can continue in Portland, a city press release states. Now, one proposal calls for a major renovation of Keller Auditorium. Two others call for construction of a new facility 鈥� either at Portland State University or at Lloyd Center.

A renovation concept for reimagining Keller Auditorium, privately led by Halprin Landscape Conservancy, was presented to Portland City Council in September. The proposal followed a study that was funded, in part, by the city and Metro and incorporated safety, accessibility and functionality upgrades.

Modernization of Keller Auditorium would be required to meet the city鈥檚 and Metro鈥檚 . Upgrading the facility to the standards of a state-of the-art, 21st-century performance venue and resolving all current physical and operational challenges would be feasible, the study states. However, a major renovation would require a lengthy closure of the building.

A request for expression of interest in building a new facility, issued by the city in July, drew eight proposals. Evaluators from Prosper Portland, Metro, Portland鈥�5 Centers for the Arts and the city met with the top five proposal teams and this week selected two proposals for further analysis, design and conceptual development: one at Lloyd Center and another at Portland State University.

Currently, a master plan is being developed for redevelopment of the 29.3-acre Lloyd Center property.

鈥淎 performance venue would be a great catalyst for a newly reimagined Lloyd Center site and would be the only of the Portland 5 venues to be located on the east side,鈥� Tom Kilbane of Urban Renaissance Group stated in an email about the Lloyd Center proposal. 鈥淚t would bring culture closer to diverse communities to connect, serve and provide access. Proximity to MAX, streetcar, multiple bus lines and major freeways ensures that people from across the region would have easy access to performances.鈥�

PSU鈥檚 proposal includes a 3,000-seat auditorium, an outdoor plaza, an on-site boutique hotel, a conference center, and educational facilities.

鈥淲e are thrilled to have our proposal selected by the city for further study and look forward to engaging with the community and our city leaders to examine all of the ways this plan can benefit Portland,鈥� PSU President Ann Cudd stated in a press release.

Next year, these two final concepts for a new performing arts facility will be presented to Portland City Council. After concepts are finalized, community members will have opportunities to provide input on whether they believe Keller Auditorium should be renovated or a new facility should be constructed.