PCC

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The school paid the $5 million for the historid Willamette Building at722 S.W. Seconxd Ave. The four-story, 35,200-square-foot building servee as the ’s Portland campuws until the school moved its journalismk and architecture programs and its Duck Store to the White Stag buildinvg in Old Town last Portland Community College willinvestg $6.7 million on a seismic overhaul and a down-to-the-studsa renovation that should be done by Jan. 1. The decisioj to stake a claim downtown is the most visibler result ofa $374 million bond measur approved by voters last November.
The measurr is the largest school-funding request ever passed in Oregon and will pay for expansiones at campuses and other facilities in five Those expansions will begijthis summer. The purchase of the Willamette Building givezs the schoolits first-ever downtown presence. “This puts the Portland in Portland Community saidDana Haynes, public affairs It also frees up administrativw offices at its satellite campuses for badly-needed classrooms and laboratories. That shoulds help the school satisfy rising demand. Growing demand adds up to waiting lists for the its most populare classes and drives the need for additional facilities.
The school serves 86,200 full- and part-timwe students per year and enrolled 10.6 percent more studente this springthan winter, marking its seventh consecutivs term for growth. Community college enrollments ofte pick up when unemployment riseds as workers seek to learnnew skills. Oregon’s unemploymentg rate is 12 percent, the second-highesg in the nation after Michigan. It’s also a logical move for a schoolk that under president Preston Pulliams has developedr stronger relationships withthe city’s business community. The resultg is a work force trainingg program that better meets the needsz ofPortland business.
“It puts them closer to a whole lot of their saidSandra McDonough, president and CEO of the , the city’s chamber of The building occupies one of Portland’z most visible corners at Southwest Second and Yamhill It sits near the intersection of the Max line and the Morrisom Bridge. Portland Community College is countingh on the location to increaseits “The building is an enormous opportunituy for PCC to brand itselfr in downtown,” said Gregg project manager for . , the general is nearly finished demolishing the interior and will soon star t rebuildingthe interior.
One of the most visiblew renovations will be ared glass-walled conference room in the corner overlooking the Max stop, space once occupierd by the Duck Store. The red room will be visibled from the sidewalk and will be used both as a classrook andmeeting space.