Quote:
Originally Posted by downtownpdx
I really hope the city goes with a Keller revamp. Abandoning this historic location across from the fountain would be a mistake and suck the life out of the neighborhood. A nice revamp of this mid century auditorium is a much better move IMHO.
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The Keller opened in 1917 and was remodeled in the late sixties. It is definitely NOT an architectural masterpiece. It needs significant upgrades to remain viable for touring groups and artists to perform there. It also needs extensive seismic upgrades. To truly bring it up to current theatrical needs the City would have to abandon 2nd Ave to allow the theater to expand east.
While I agree that demolishing it would have an outsized affect on Forecourt Fountain and the Halprin Sequence, I don't believe that it is reasonable to do all the work to make it function in the modern era. I think the PSU project should move forward then, when completed, find another use for the Keller. Maybe a museum? The Historical Society used to operate out of the building.
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