Photo: A conceptual rendering of the future Portland State University’s Performing Arts and Culture Center, which will accommodate Broadway-level performances. | Photo Credit: Portland State University
By Lindsey Coulter
At a glance:
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Location: Portland
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Major Funding Secured: PSU has secured $155M for the Performing Arts and Culture Center (PACC), including $137.5M in state bonds, $7.6M from Prosper Portland, and $10.5M in philanthropic pledges.
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Purpose and Design: The PACC will feature a 1,200-seat theater, academic spaces, parking, and a city-owned venue for Broadway-level performances, located on PSU’s University Place Hotel site downtown.
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Part of Two-Theater Strategy: This is the first phase of Portland’s two-theater plan, designed to keep performing arts active downtown without long-term closures.
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Economic & Cultural Impact: Leaders see the project as a cornerstone of downtown revitalization, supporting education, arts, cultural exchange, and economic resilience.
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Next Steps and Timeline: PSU continues fundraising and exploring partnerships (possibly including a hotel and conference center) with the PACC expected to open in 2030.
PORTLAND — Portland State University (PSU) is making significant strides in its ambitious Performing Arts and Culture Center (PACC) project, having secured $155 million in funding for the next phase of development. The funding includes $137.5 million in state bonds approved by the Oregon Legislature as well as contributions from Prosper Portland and philanthropic donors.
The Oregon Legislature approved the $137.5 million in state bonds as part of Senate Bill 5505. Of this amount, $85 million will fund the construction of a 1,200-seat theater and academic space, while $52.5 million will go toward developing on-site parking infrastructure. The funding is paired with $7.6 million from Prosper Portland and $10.5 million in philanthropic pledges.
PSU’s Performing Arts and Culture Center will be located at the south end of downtown Portland, on a 4.25-acre, PSU-owned parcel at the current site of the University Place Hotel. The facility will integrate a variety of spaces, including the PSU-owned theater and academic spaces, alongside a city-owned venue designed to accommodate Broadway-level performances.
The development is part of a broader vision to create two world-class performance venues in Portland’s downtown, which city leaders hope will serve the community for generations to come.
“Portland State University is grateful for the support of Gov. Kotek and the Oregon Legislature,” said PSU President Ann Cudd in a statement. “We believe this project reflects the bold leadership and creative vision needed to reinvigorate our city. This is about shaping a future filled with opportunity for our students, artists and community.”
This project is the first phase of Portland’s two-theater strategy, authorized by the Portland City Council in October 2024. The strategy calls for the construction of two Broadway-capable theaters in sequence, with the PSU theater being the first to be developed. This approach is designed to ensure that performing arts programming can continue in the city without long-term closures.
Rep. Dacia Grayber, whose district includes PSU, celebrated the funding approval as a key win for both the arts and Portland’s economic future.
“Investments in arts and culture are investments in economic resilience, in education, and the vitality of our downtown,” Grayber said in a university statement. “We are choosing with these bonds to boldly sing the song of our city and who we can be for generations to come.”
As the project gains momentum, PSU has already secured $10.5 million in philanthropic support and is actively engaging with major donors and potential development partners for the next stages of the site, which may include a hotel and conference center.
The PACC will play a pivotal role in Portland’s downtown revitalization, creating new opportunities for the performing arts and cultural exchange. It is expected to become a hub for students, artists, educators, and audiences from across Oregon, with plans to welcome visitors when it opens in 2030.
PSU and city officials are committed to ensuring that the PACC will remain a cultural anchor in Portland for years to come.