HVAC, elevator upgrades get underway in Smith

Work on the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems (HVAC), as well as upgrades to the Smith elevators, are about to begin this summer. Technicians are doing walk-throughs. New fan systems are on order. Elevator parts are – hopefully – on the way.

Smith is upgrading several systems deemed most likely to fail in the near future. Replacing them before they stop working unexpectedly will allow the building to remain comfortable and accessible for some time to come. As Smith is a campus fee-funded area, much of this project is supported by an $8.1 million bond approved by the Student Fee Committee.

The HVAC systems serving the Mezzanine levels, northeast ground floor, Veterans Resource Center and Quiet Prayer and Meditation lounge will be replaced starting in late July. This work will extend into early 2026. During this period, there will be reduced heat and air in those areas — but they will be open for those that want to use them. Some departments are planning to relocate during the work period. Look for more information on relocated departments as fall term approaches.

With elevator technicians planning a November 2025 start, the Mezzanine elevator will be turned off so that it can be upgraded. That work takes about four months. Alternative access to the Mezzanines will be available. In spring 2026, the elevators in the main hallway will be worked on. One of the two will always be available.

Starting in late winter term 2026, the HVAC system serving the southeast corner of Smith will be replaced. This area includes Student Media, the Helen Gordon Infant/Toddler Center, La Casa Latina Student Cultural Center, the Pacific Islander, Asian and Asian American (PIAAA) Student Center, Multicultural Retention Services and event spaces on the third floor. That work will extend into summer 2026.

Portion of a third-floor blueprint of Smith. Areas of HVAC work are outlined but unlabeled.

While most of this work is in mechanical areas and will not impact student spaces in Smith, there will be the occasional hallway closure, office that has to be shut down while work goes on nearby and, of course, elevators offline. There will also be the occasional closed building entry or need to ask some folks to work from an alternative location, especially when materials are being moved by crane on and off the roof for a brief period this fall.

If this is the first you are hearing of this, don’t worry. Those whose offices will be impacted have already been contacted by Capital Projects and Construction (CPC) and Smith Operations directly.

One important reminder: Smith Memorial Student Union will not be closed during this work. Most of the building will continue to have HVAC during the entire construction period and contractors are planning to coexist with the thousands of campus community members who use Smith each week.

To recap:

Northeast HVAC - Summer 2025 to Winter 2026
Southeast HVAC - Winter 2026 to Summer 2026
Elevators (Mezzanine then main hallway) - Late fall 2025 through Summer 2026

Look for an early Smith Scoop in mid-September to update everyone on the status of work as fall term approaches. In the meantime, if you have specific questions feel free to contact building manager Mercedes Youngston or Smith marketing coordinator Randy Mishler. Both are working with CPC and project contractors at this time.

Smith's Summer Hours 2025

This summer the student union will follow Portland State University student, staff and faculty hours for the campus and only slightly reduce our general public hours.

SMITH MEMORIAL STUDENT UNION — SUMMER 2025

From June 16 to Sept. 19 (the Friday before the week before fall classes):

PSU ID access: 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily
General public hours (at SW Broadway entrance only): 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. M-F. No public hours on weekends.
Those student staff with extended access and professional staff with 24/7 access will continue to have that access during the summer unless your department requests otherwise.
For scheduled events outside of general public hours, special access will be available at the SW Broadway doors.
The week of Sept. 22, 2025, Smith will move to its fall term hours. Classes begin Sept. 29.

Summer vendor hours (at this time):

University Market: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. M-Th, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday; closed weekends
Bowery Bagels: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. M-F.
Smith's Kitchen food court: While food stations will be closed, the court will be open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m for grab-and-go, and possible surprises.
Vendor hours may vary during the summer based on staffing.

Related notes:

The Smallwood Food Pantry summer hours are Tuesday 10 am - 5 pm; Wednesday 11 am - 5 pm; Thursday 10 am - 5 pm; Friday 10 am - 4 pm.; Closed Sat, Sun, Mon.
The Viking Gameroom will be closed except for reserved special events. You can make a reservation through its webpage.
Smith’s Caffeine Cove coffee shop will be closed during the summer.
The Info Hub window will be closed for summer. The box office is open online at pdx.edu/tickets.

IMPORTANT — Surplus and trash removal reminder: Your department or office must not leave furniture and large items, particularly trash, in the corridors of Smith. It creates access issues for your area and others serving students in the building. Custodial does not remove these items.

Please contact PSU Materials Maintenance and arrange for a date of pickup BEFORE taking items out of your work space. They often have a backlog of pickups so your patience — and consideration for others in the student union — is appreciated.

New campus event venue scheduling tool arrives July 1

The bell is about to toll for EMS.

Starting July 1, Portland State will switch to 25Live for all event venue requests, scheduling and planning. Want to use the Smith ballroom for a cultural night? Host a speaker in KMC or a department party on the Urban Terrace? Your request will now go through 25Live which provides more visibility of open dates and more information on venues.

The form to reserve will be available starting July 1.

If you are your department's event planner and haven’t been contacted about 25Live training, contact Campus Event’s Matt Berger to schedule a session.

Help Guide Smith: Join Our Advisory Board

Applications for the 2025-26 Smith Advisory Board are open. The board is looking for students, staff and faculty to advise Smith Management on the policies and procedures of the Smith Memorial Student Union.

The Board offers recommendations on things such as budgets, changes to policies, space allocation, operations, marketing and more. Smith is a fee-funded area so Board recommendations are often taken into account when student fee funds are allocated.

Email board administrator, and building manager, Mercedes Youngston for application information.

Jess from Bowery Bagels hands a special bagel shop treat to a child in the Infant and Tots program.

The Bowery Bagels crew welcomed the gang from the Helen Gordon Center Tots/Infants Program, based in Smith, for a special shop-and-treat experience on the ground floor of Smith earlier this month.

To let us know about an upcoming event of general interest or changes in your department or Smith-based group, drop us a line via our Scoop Content Submission Form.

Smith Memorial Student Union at Portland State University is managed by the Campus Events & Student Union office, located in Smith 119 (off the Broadway lobby). You can reach us at conferences@pdx.edu, 503-725-2663.

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