Quote:
Originally Posted by RED_PDXer
I like it, but it doesn't seem to be adding much SF to the school. Looks more like a cosmetic upgrade than anything.
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Well, as someone having spent many, many years working and attending school at PSU, I have to comment here. One of the biggest problems PSU has is that many of its facilities are dated, in poor shape, and simply do not meet the needs of the university. Ie, they are small, poorly lit, have poor access, do not provide adequate environments for learning, and all sorts of weird problems. Take a tour of the upper floors of Kramer Hall if you don't believe me.
Also, the nature of education has changed, and there is a huge need for collaborative spaces for students to meet, socialize and work on group projects. There are almost no spaces on campus that can meet this need, aside from a few new break-out rooms in the library and Seattle's Best coffee shop, which the majority of staff members use as a meeting space (as there is a huge dearth of meeting spaces and conference rooms on campus).
I could go on.
So I can see how PSU's administration would like to fix the "core" of campus, consolidate functions, make the spaces work, and THEN spend money on the expansions that are also sorely needed. But it doesn't make a lot of sense to pay for all these buildings that are barely contributing to PSU's academics and core function (Peter Stott Center is another huge problem - and barely used right now).