Shattuck Hall upgrades to end summer 2008

At the south end of Portland State’s campus, a $13.9 million renovation project to Shattuck Hall is now underway, remodeling the building’s interior, revamping electric, plumbing and heating systems and updating seismic standards.

With renovations to the building delayed for decades due to a lack of funding from the state legislature, Shattuck Hall retains its original 1915 plumbing system, offers little protection from earthquakes and has an inadequate emergency exit plan from the building, according to Robyn Pierce, director of facilities and planning.

“This is our second oldest building on campus,” said Pierce. “Improving safety, especially the seismic upgrades, is very important to us.”

The project, slated for completion in August 2008, is largely being funded through increased funding for capital construction at PSU, after the state legislature approved a larger budget for higher education in July.

An additional $1.6 million in donations from private sources, such as fundraising and departmental funds, will pay for expanded facilities for Campus Public Safety, new offices for the architecture department and a kiln for the art department, replacing the current kiln in Neuberger Hall.

Project manager Charlene Lindsay said that she wished the budget for the renovations could have gone even further to enhance the 60,000-square-foot structure.

“Surprisingly, $13.9 million doesn’t go as far as one would think,” Lindsay said.

As a result, Lindsay found herself and her team picking and choosing the items that would make the building safer, more energy efficient and more comfortable. With such an old building, Lindsay said, there are elements that cannot be fixed because the cost is just too high-construction oversight alone costs over $2 million, for example.

Lindsay also said energy efficiency standards are another important factor to consider in planning the renovation process, in order to satisfy conservation requirements within Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s environmental plan to promote the use of clean energy.

The renovations should bring the building up to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards, a national energy efficiency rating system, meeting energy-efficiency standards set by the U.S. Green Building Council, Lindsay said.

John MacLean, assistant director of facilities, said that the new features of the building will have a significant impact on energy spending, and that the energy side of the project should pay for itself over the next 20 years.

“We hope that it will be faster than that,” MacLean said. The predicted energy spending estimate includes a projected 5 percent annual increase in utilities, he said, though price hikes for utilities could end up lower depending on the market price for energy sources such as natural gas.

Such large scale undertakings are familiar to Linsday, who began working for PSU in April after leaving a similar position at the University of Oregon. Lindsay previously managed the $93 million remodeling and expansion of Autzen Stadium, UO’s football stadium, in 2000. She is also slated to oversee the $29.2 million seismic and structural update of Lincoln Hall, scheduled to begin fall 2008.

Before becoming a part of the Portland State campus, Shattuck Hall functioned as a Portland public school, from 1915 until the 1960s. In 1969 the building became university property and housed Portland State students, administration and staff until it was closed earlier this year to prepare for the scheduled renovations.

While Lindsay said she is just getting to know the Portland State campus, she also said she is excited to be here at a time when the state legislature is beginning to make more equal investments in all seven of the public universities that make up the Oregon University System.

“What the legislature gave PSU is right up there with the other universities,” Lindsay said. “In my opinion, we’re going to continue to see that perceived gap between the schools closing.”

What does $13.9 million buy?

Build-out of spaces to house architecture and general pool classrooms during construction $700,000

Consultant fees, permits, fees, inspections and project management $2.3 million

Demolition and site work $700,000

Concrete, masonry, structural steel and miscellaneous metals (seismic) $1.4 million

Doors, windows, interior finishes, casework, etc. $1.6 million

New roof $370,000

Elevator $150,000

Plumbing and HVAC $3 million

Fire protection $250,000

Electrical $1.4 million

Phone and data $100,000

Security and access controls $50,000

Misc. specialties, site mobilization, etc. $300,000

One percent for art $ 100,000

Contractor bonds, insurance, etc. $160,000

Construction contingency $1.28 million (for unforeseen conditions – if not used for unforeseen conditions, funds can be used either to buy back work previously cut from project due to budget constraints, or else will not be spent)

(Data courtesy of Charlene Lindsay)