Portland Opera supports new performing arts center at PSU

The Portland Opera has endorsed Portland State University’s proposal to build a new performing arts center on its campus to replace the Keller Auditorium.

The opera is the Portland arts organization to take a public stand on the contentious debate over the future of the Keller, which does not meet current earthquake standards. The City Council is expected to consider whether to renovate the Keller or replace it with a new center at PSU or in the Lloyd District on Aug. 14.

In a July 23 statement, the opera said it is supporting PSU’s proposal because closing the Keller for the time necessary to renovate it would seriously harm the economy and arts scene. Performances at the Keller pump hundreds of millions of dollars into the regional economy and generate revenue that supports all of the city’s performing arts centers.

"The Keller Auditorium remaining open until a new one is built is not only key to rebuilding our performances and revenue, but also necessary for our continued existence,” said Sue Dixon, General Director and CEO of Portland Opera. “Closing the Keller, even for one day, threatens the arts community and all of the artists, performers, technicians and support staff who all contribute to a thriving arts ecosystem.”

The renovation proposal has been presented by the Halprin Landscape Conservancy, calling it the least expensive option that would also preserve a historic building.

"The arts community in Portland was devastated by COVID-19, especially the Portland Opera,” said Carole Morse, Portland Opera Board chair. “Thanks to our wonderful partners, staff, donors and subscribers, we are slowly coming back. The Halprin Landscape Conservancy’s proposal would close the Keller for two to three years, undo all our efforts, and essentially force us to go through pandemic-level impacts again.”

The cost of renovating the Keller is estimated at $290 million. The price tag of the new PSU plan is expected to be about $450 million for the city-owned venue portion. However, when the cost of shutting down the Keller foreseen by the opera is included, the costs could be about the same.

The opera bases much of its decision on a study commissioned by Metro, the elected regional government that manages the city’s performing arts centers. It was released shortly before the three proposals were presented to the council on May 29.

It was conducted by Crossroads Consulting. During the first year of the closure, the study estimated potential lost economic contributions to the region including $46.8 million in output, 320 jobs, $20.5 million in labor income, and local and state tax revenues totaling $2.5 million. During the second year, the study estimated potential lost economic contributions including $49.5 million in output, 336 jobs, $21.8 million in labor income, and local and state tax revenues totaling $2.6 million.

The study also predicted adverse impacts to the Keller’s resident companies, including the Oregon Ballet Theater, Portland Opera, and especially Broadway Across America, the popular touring Broadway shows that must be scheduled years in advance.

“In recent communication between the City and Broadway Across America, Broadway Across America expressed concerns regarding the potential temporary closure of Keller Auditorium. According to representatives of the organization, there is fear that a temporary closure would have negative impacts longer than just the construction period. More than 70% of a performance audience is typically a season (or subscription) ticket holder, and these patrons are likely to leave for other entertainment/experiences in markets outside of Portland during the closure,” said the study.

The three Keller options

With around 3,000 seats, the Keller is the largest city-owned performing arts center. Built in 1917 and remodeled in the 1960s, it is the longtime home of the Oregon Ballet Theater, the Portland Opera and the even more popular touring Broadway shows presented by Broadway Across America.

But a city study released in 2020 found the Keller could be seriously damaged and even collapse in an earthquake. That prompted the City Council to consider either renovating or replacing the Keller with a new performing arts center in a different location.

The Halprin Landscape Conservancy is a nonprofit organization that supports the Portland Open Space Sequence — as it was originally called — the series of interactive fountains, plazas and connecting pathways in lower downtown designed by Lawrence Halprin and Associates between 1963 and 1970. These mid-century modern parks are internationally recognized and considered by some to be Portland’s most influential works of landscape architecture. They include the Keller Fountain across the street in front of the Keller Auditorium.

The conservancy stepped forward after the city seismic study with what it calls the “big idea” to preserve the Keller and help revitalize downtown Portland. In addition to earthquake upgrades, it proposes expanding the front toward the fountain to create a public plaza, interior and exterior improvements to improve the public experience, and more.

“Downtown Portland needs a project like this at a time when it is struggling to survive,” Andrews said.

Portland State University is proposing to replace an existing conference center it owns at 310 S.W. Lincoln Street with a larger, more up-to-date performing arts center, along with a smaller performing arts center, an educational building, a hotel and parking. PSU officials call it the Portland Arts + Culture Center and say it would create a new destination in an underused part of downtown.

“PSU has had hundreds of conversations with arts and culture organizations and patrons from across the region,” said PSU President Ann Cudd. “Their input has helped us shape our proposal for the Portland Performing Arts + Culture Center into something that will truly inspire our city for generations to come. We are excited to take this bold proposal to the city on May 29.”

The owners of the Lloyd Center in Northeast Portland have also submitted a proposal that would include a performing arts center in a new neighborhood that would replace the existing underused shopping center. They have not released a cost estimate.

The vision statement on the project website is: “Create an energized, welcoming and inclusive neighborhood that inspires diverse communities to connect, gather and do business.”

Replacing the Keller at PSU or the Lloyd Center would allow it to stay open during construction of the new performing arts center. But then the question becomes, what should be done with the Keller and who would pay for it?

Broadway shows at risk

Choosing between the three proposals is complicated enough. But the council must also consider what would happen to the Keller’s existing users during the closure for remodeling, which could start as soon as 2027. The nonprofit Oregon Ballet Theater and Portland Opera could stage smaller shows in other venues, including the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall and Newmark Theater. Like the Keller, they are part of the city-owned Portland’5 Centers for the Arts.

But closing the Keller for the 24 months estimated to complete the renovations would financially damage the Portland economy. The Broadway shows have an estimated $30 million economic impact each season. There is no other venue in the region suitable for them.

Such cancelations would also cause serious financial problems for all of the city-owned theaters, collectively known as the Portland’5 Centers for the Arts. The Keller generates half the revenue for the Portland’5 theaters and helps make smaller, local productions feasible, affordable and accessible.

The economic impact of even a temporary Keller closure could last for years. The booking process for Broadway is planned two to three years in advance, with larger multi-week, mega-hit favorites like “Wicked” and “Hamilton” scheduled even further in advance.