Newsroom

PORTLAND, Ore. – Oregon State University will build on its land grant mission and long-standing service to the Portland region from a new location – the second floor of the historic Meier & Frank Building in downtown Portland.

The university signed the lease Monday with the property’s owner, KBS and Sterling Bay. CBRE served as the real estate firm in the transaction. The university will occupy the 39,509 square-foot space beginning Aug. 1, 2018.

“OSU is proud to be a contributor to the success of the Portland region,” said Oregon State President Ed Ray. “Our central location across from Pioneer Courthouse Square will build on many existing OSU programs and activities in Portland. We look forward to working even more fully with partners in education, industry and the community to serve unmet learner, economic and community regional needs.”

Oregon State serves the Portland region from:

* The Food Innovation Center in the Pearl District;

* College of Pharmacy teaching and research in the Collaborative Life Sciences Building in the South Waterfront district;

* OSU Extension programs and offices throughout Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties;

* College of Business MBA hybrid programs in the Collaborative Life Sciences Building;

* Numerous education and research partnerships with Portland State University and OHSU;

* College of Veterinary Medicine collaboration with the Oregon Humane Society; and

* Numerous partnerships with local school districts, non-profit organizations and private industry.

Oregon State’s offices in the Meier & Frank building will serve as a new home for existing Portland-based operations of the university, the OSU Extension Service, the OSU Foundation, the OSU Alumni Association and OSU Athletics. As well, this new location will include the OSU Advantage – the university’s private industry partnership and commercialization initiative – as well as some classrooms and meeting spaces.

“Serving the Portland region is part of OSU’s 149-year mission as Oregon’s statewide university,” Ray said. “Our work in Portland complements Oregon State’s teaching, research,  and outreach and engagement mission and the work we do at our campuses in Corvallis and Bend – and major initiatives, such as the Marine Studies Initiative along Oregon’s coast and globally.”

The historic 15-story Meier & Frank Building is located between S.W. 5^th and S.W. 6^th avenues, and S.W. Alder and S.W. Morrison streets. The Nines Hotel occupies the 6^th through the 15^th floors of the building. While OSU will occupy the entire second floor, retail stores will occupy the ground floor and additional tenants will be located in the 3^rd through 5^th floors. Tri-Met’s MAX light rail lines serve the facility on three sides of the Meier & Frank Building block.

“KBS and Sterling Bay are proud to welcome Oregon State University to the Meier & Frank Building,” said Clint Copulos, KBS senior vice present and asset manager. “This is a classic downtown building and we are very excited about the redevelopment which reflects the uniqueness of the property and its location."