Classroom shuffle

Students enrolled in classes such as applied linguistics, syntax or peace education fall term may be surprised to learn their courses have been moved from elsewhere on campus to the Clay Street building, former home of the Portland State employment tax office.

Renovations to the building, located at 1433 S.W. Sixth Ave., have recently been made possible through increases to Oregon’s capital construction budget, part of an overall increase in higher education funds from the state legislature.

With renovations to Shattuck Hall still underway, and the recent demolition of the Portland Center for Advanced Technology (PCAT) building, classroom space has been reassigned creatively across campus to accommodate returning and new students alike.

“Pretty much all the Shattuck classes moved to the Unitus Building,” said Ernest Tipton, campus design and planning manager. Shattuck Hall has been closed since spring term for upcoming renovations.

Tipton also said that all classes previously held in the PCAT have been moved to existing buildings on campus or to the Clay Street building.

Students can find the Unitus building by heading east to Southwest Fourth Avenue from the South Park Blocks and then walking south to the corner of Lincoln Street and Fourth Avenue. At six stories tall with a drive-through teller and large glowing Unitus Credit Union sign, it’s hard to miss.

For those heading to the Clay Street building, students will want to head north from the Smith Memorial Student Union building down to Sixth Avenue, just past the University District post office. The modest two-story building blends in fairly well with the sidewalk, so just look for the PSU stickers on the windows.

Further building renovations around campus are also in the works, thanks in large part to Oregon State Legislature’s appropriation of nearly $65 million in funds earlier this year for capital construction projects on campus. Lincoln Hall and the outdated facilities of Science Building 2 are two such projects.

Performing arts majors have at least one more year of courses taking place in Lincoln Hall before renovations are scheduled to begin, according to Charlene Lindsay, of the facilities and planning department. Classes in Lincoln Hall are not scheduled to leave the building until after summer term 2008, and students can expect to return to Lincoln Hall after summer 2010, Lindsay said.

Upgrades to Science Building 2 are expected to take place with classes still proceeding in the building, according to Tipton.

Campus maps are updated with the new Clay Street building addition, and the maps also highlight the Unitus building as well as all other PSU facilities. Maps are available in the Smith Memorial building and various other locations on campus.