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Planning for the Keller Auditorium has shifted to collaboration, and a final decision on the venue鈥檚 future could be determined as early as October.

Previously, the Halprin Landscape Conservancy proposed an update of the existing building while Portland State University pitched construction of a new facility. But the Portland City Council on Wednesday directed city staff to work with the 501 (c) 3 organization and PSU to explore a potential joint project to either replace or renovate the Keller Auditorium.

The project teams are scheduled to return before the council with a combined proposal on Oct. 9. If one is not available, Mayor Ted Wheeler said he intends to bring a resolution before the council asking the city to proceed with only one of the proposals.

The Keller Auditorium is the only venue in the region that can host large-scale theatrical productions like Broadway ones, said Karl Lisle, spectator venues program manager for the city. The venue also generates about 50 percent of the Portland鈥�5 Centers for the Arts鈥� total revenues.

鈥淭hese revenues are critical to supporting the other four theaters also owned by the city and operated by the Portland鈥�5 as well as making it possible for Portland鈥�5 to charge lower rental rates to resident companies and nonprofit groups,鈥� Lisle said.

However, the building would not fare well in the event of a major earthquake, according to a 2020 Keller Seismic Analysis Summary Report. A full renovation or replacement would be required to ensure seismic resilience.

The original building opened in 1917. Its structure has received little investment since a significant renovation in the 1960s, Lisle said, and the list of outdated facilities and amenities is long. The building has an aging HVAC system and restrooms, ADA deficiencies, space constraints and other issues. Antiquated amenities include dressing rooms, lighting, sound, equipment, production elements, seating and more.

In 2022, the city and Metro each provided the Halprin Landscape Conservancy (HLC) with $200,000 in funding to further develop the concept of renovating the auditorium. In 2023, the HLC issued its renovation concept for the existing facility.

At the same time, the city began to explore what construction of a new facility might look like on an alternate site. After an evaluation process, two sites were selected for further study: one owned by Portland State University at the south end of downtown and another at Lloyd Center.

On May 29, all three design concepts were presented to the Portland City Council. In June, public engagement was launched to gather feedback on the three options. In Common, a local strategic marketing firm, was engaged by the city鈥檚 spectator venues staff to support public engagement regarding the auditorium鈥檚 future by facilitating collection of stakeholders鈥� feedback. This included nine sessions with stakeholders and issuance of a public survey involving ECOnorthwest. These engagements revealed a recognition of the need for a modern, world-class arts venue in Portland, and highlighted different views on whether to renovate the Keller Auditorium or build a new facility, according to the firm鈥檚 reported findings.

The resolution passed Wednesday dismisses the Lloyd Center proposal and calls for collaboration between the two proposals in the downtown area.

During the meeting, both the Halprin Landscape Conservancy and PSU voiced support for collaboration on a proposal.