September 2019 update
HT remodel
During the winter term of 2019, the design team defined a vision for the HT remodel project with the help of students, faculty, and staff, through workshops, open houses, and other feedback opportunities. A set of visioning statements were created based on everyone’s contributions and it will guide improvement and remodel work.
During the spring term of 2019, our team completed the first rounds of informational interviews and focus groups with the groups that currently have offices and classrooms in the HT Building. The design team analyzed the information to better define the specific spaces used for working, teaching, learning, collaborating, and socializing, and the qualities of these areas. A summary of this report will be available at our ‘project updates to campus’ events scheduled for October and November.
Another component of the project that has kept our team busy during the summer is planning for swing space (temporary space used during construction) for the current programs in the HT. This plan continues to be developed and will be shared with the Sylvania campus in November.
We most recently contracted a geotechnical study to provide soil information needed to design seismic upgrades to the HT building.
Site improvements
There is mandatory work required to bring the Sylvania site into code compliance. The majority of the required improvements include landscape upgrades within parking lots. Last spring, we gathered community input and looked at solutions via the campus-wide feedback fairs and work sessions held with the Campus Framework Stakeholder Committee. The feedback gathered confirmed some challenges to access and circulation. A common sentiment among participants was that all improvements to the campus site should be sustainable, safe, and accessible.
As part of our stakeholder engagement, we brought information about this project and its process to SWNI (South West Neighborhood Incorporated) and the West Portland Park neighborhood association. We also received TriMet’s feedback on our preliminary work plan.
Opportunities for involvement:
- October 8, Students of Color Critical Race and Spatial Theory Workshop
- October 9, All Students Critical Race and Spatial Theory Workshop
- October 22, Far SW Neighborhood Association Presentation
- October 24, Project Update with Q&A for Staff, Faculty, and Students
- October 28, Project Update with Q&A for Staff, Faculty, and Students