OSU ponders renovations of four campus buildings at public input meetings

Oregon State University will hold two forums Tuesday to discuss whether to renovate or to build new structures to house four of its cultural centers: the Asian & Pacific Cultural Center, 2638 N.W. Jackson Ave., the Centro Cultural Cesar Chavez, 1969 A St., the Lonnie B. Harris Black Cultural Center, 2320 N.W. Monroe Ave. and the Native American Longhouse at the Corner of 26th Street and Jefferson Way.

“All four of them are in disrepair. There are some that have problems with foundations, some with roofs, some with rodents,” said Beth Rietveld, OSU Women’s Center director and interim supervisor for OSU’s cultural centers.

“They desperately need to be replaced, rebuilt or remodeled,” she said. The four buildings only hold about 25 people comfortably. That’s a problem because cultural events that feature food, dance and art can attract more than 200 people. So, many such gatherings are held in the Memorial Union instead.

OSU students and Corvallis community members are encouraged to attend the meetings, which are scheduled from noon to 2 p.m. in the Memorial Union Journey Room, and from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Memorial Union Lounge.

About $200,000 was allocated out of Raising Reser funds for design work regarding the future of the cultural centers. The project also has $2 million earmarked in the Campaign for OSU, but that still must be raised.

Architects estimate the new-construction cost for each cultural center at $2 million to $2.5 million, Rietveld said. Ten alternative sites have been identified on campus. But renovations might be nearly as spendy, she said.

Rietveld believed that it probably will take from 5 to 15 years to renovate or to construct new buildings for the four cultural centers.

The Longhouse, a World War II-era Quonset hut, must be replaced, Rietveld said. “The students decided last year that was the center that was in the worst shape,” she added.

The Women’s Center recently was upgraded, but although the Pride Center could use renovations as well, the gay, lesbian and transgender student groups located there obtained its use just two years ago. For that reason, the center wasn’t initially considered for the project, which has been in the works for a decade.

OSU’s director of diversity development position currently is open, though a job search is underway. The old director moved out of the state, and that job has been vacant since August.

Kyle Odegard covers Oregon State University. He can be contacted at kyle.odegard@lee.net or 758-9523.