Portland State University has unveiled plans for a 106,000-square-foot arts building in downtown Portland, a $90 million project that would consolidate art programs now housed in four aging buildings. The proposed building would rise on a site currently used as a parking lot. PSU has not announced a completion date. About 1,200 students are enrolled in the university’s art program. The project is funded mostly by the state, with additional support from donors. Portland developer and art collector Jordan Schnitzer, whose family has given more than $26 million to PSU, described the new facility as a replacement for four deteriorating buildings. He also argued that art education develops creative skills valuable in the workforce. For students, the project represents a more visible commitment to the arts at PSU. Art student Tiffany Nguyen said the new building signals university support and that she feels confident about the community and connections she is building there. The program encompasses both digital and hands-on practices. In a period when artificial intelligence can generate images, students continue to work with analog photography and VHS, among other mediums, using personal and cultural histories in their art. Graphic Design Professor Lis Sherman said students still want to make work that carries personal meaning and connects with their communities and cultures. The building is planned with mass timber, using wood from the Pacific Northwest. Its design and eventual construction will turn a former parking area into a substantial new campus space in downtown Portland.