Lincoln Hall now open

On the eve of its 100th anniversary, Lincoln Hall was officially re-opened last Thursday after having been closed down for nearly two years while it underwent renovation. Though merely one of many construction projects currently in progress at Portland State, the restoration of this historic hub for theater and fine arts is a proud achievement to those familiar with the structure.

Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski, Portland State President Wim Wiewel and Dean of Fine and Performing Arts Barbara Sestak were present for the building’s opening ceremony.

“If you don’t have at least one major building under construction at any given time, you’re falling behind,” Wieweltold the crowd of alumni and school benefactors gathered in Lincoln Hall’s new 465-seat performance hall.

According to Wiewel, the renovation of the building shows PSU’s commitment to honor its history and showcases the university’s ongoing initiative to expand and

modernize.

“We have preserved the past, and made it work for us again,” Wiewel said.

Built in 1911 as a high school, a status that was maintained until the early 1950s, Lincoln Hall was the first building on PSU’s current campus, where it will continue to serve as a center for music, theater and fine arts.

The facility has withstood a sizable amount of wear and tear over the years, Kulongoski said.  During the ceremony, the governor remembered touring the building before its restoration; when visiting the roof, Wiewel warned him to walk softly as there was a possibility of falling through the ceiling.  

Apparently moved by the risky rooftop  sojourn, Kulongoski and the Oregon State

Legislature ultimately approved some $30 million worth of federal stimulus and state bonds to restore the historic Lincoln Hall to its traditional standard.

According to Kulongoski, the Lincoln Hall project promises a number of other benefits, including job creation and a physical demonstration of the need for public investment in institutions of post-secondary education.

“In the long term, universities are a crucible for innovation and creativity,” he said. “This is where our future lies.”

The renovation of LincolnHall, which took approximately two years, has resulted in a number of new or improved building amenities, including the increase in classroom size, the modernization of seismic safeguards, the expansion of the Film Studies program, the addition of a new acting studio and the overall updating of resident technology.

As the fastest-growing school on campus, PSU’s School of Fine and Performing Arts has been in desperate need of an operational base. With a 22 percent increase in the number of Fine and Performing Arts majors over the last year alone, the newly renovated building will see much use and appreciation in the years to come.

In addition, PSU can now boast seven LEED—a standard for environmentally friendly buildings—certified structures on campus.

When asked if he plans to attend any of the approximately 350 student and community arts events that will take place in Lincoln Hall over the 2010–11 school year, Kulongoski assured that he would find the time to enjoy the latest addition to PSU.