Oregon Sustainability Center: the Good, the Bad and the Controversial

The proposed OSC affects Portland State University, like it or not

Plans are moving forward for the Oregon Sustainability Center, though not without major controversy over the building’s funding. While Mayor Sam Adams is highly in favor of the structure, much of the public is concerned about how the construction of the building will prove to be financially sustainable for Portland. The OSC would be a revolutionary step for green thinking, but every good idea comes with necessary drawbacks.

The proposed OSC affects Portland State University, like it or not

Plans are moving forward for the Oregon Sustainability Center, though not without major controversy over the building’s funding. While Mayor Sam Adams is highly in favor of the structure, much of the public is concerned about how the construction of the building will prove to be financially sustainable for Portland. The OSC would be a revolutionary step for green thinking, but every good idea comes with necessary drawbacks.

The proposed center would be located on the edge of Portland State’s campus at Southwest 4th Avenue and Montgomery Street. The total building cost for the project is estimated at around $61.7 million. It would be the future home to multiple Oregon for-profit and not-for-profit businesses, as well as an educational center for university students to study ecological and sustainable practices.

It is proposed to function as a net-zero energy building, meaning that the building will produce all of the energy needed to support the center. Architectural plans indicate the structure will be blanketed in solar panels while simultaneously utilizing geothermal energy through a system of wells below the site.

The center will also execute a net-zero water system. Rainwater will be collected and treated for human consumption. Treated greywater from hand and dishwashing facilities will be used in the building’s toilets and as a cooling mechanism for the center’s mechanical equipment. Blackwater or wastewater from toilets will be filtered through an intense biological treatment system where it can then be used in the greywater system or reintroduced into the ground.

The OSC would stand as one of the most eco-friendly buildings in the United States, showcasing the incredible benefits of running a carbon free building. It would likely go down as Mayor Adam’s personal legacy for his time spent as our city leader. However, people are asking: where exactly is all the funding for this green dream coming from?

It is proposed that half of the money will come directly out of the Portland Development Commission’s budget for the entire city. The other 50 percent is said to be provided by the Oregon University System. Portland’s City Council has yet to declare its exact contribution to the future of the center, though it has been stated that it is highly possible this could be done through several millions of dollars in bonds, matched by nearly equal financing through taxes. On Sept. 20, the Economic Development Administration announced that they would provide a federal grant of $1.5 million to the project. The following day, Portland’s City Council voted 3-2 to pledge support of their portion of funding for the center.

Dissenting council members voiced concern that the proposal did not have enough sound evidence explaining how the center will be continuously financed. Much of their anxiety is caused by the expensive lease rates that would be needed to support such a building, which are estimated at fifteen to twenty percent higher than similar spaces in the area. With the University System set to inhabit a large portion of the space, there is logical concern that tuition rates at PSU would rise to reflect the cost of the rent.

Meanwhile, citizens of Portland are outraged that such a project would be brought into the forefront while Oregon’s severely underfunded and floundering K-12 educational system continues to see a massive lack of monetary support.

The recent bankruptcy of Solyndra, which was meant to support similar projects in green technology, should also weigh heavily on many minds. Could the OSC’s funding face a similar demise? Mayor Adams promises that 90 percent of the building’s space will be leased prior to construction and that the remaining 10 percent will be accounted for by its completion. The entire success of the center is resting on this guarantee; without it, the city will have no way of supporting the building’s existence.

With any luck, Portland will be able to learn from the past failures of others and identify points of contention before they become overwhelming. Should it prove to be successful, the building will aid in promoting Portland as one of the leaders in green technology and sustainable industries. The OSC will also be a grand achievement for PSU, proving once again that we are a forward thinking and eco-conscious campus. Still, only time will tell if this immediate financial risk will pay off both environmentally and economically in the future.