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Hello,
The upcoming break between terms will mean extra construction impacts as the contractors working on Smith prepare to finish one supply fan system and start work on another. Plus, cafeteria operations are returning to the student union, carpet cleaning is going on, PSU shirts are on sale and it is time to nominate your terrific student employees!
Thank you for reading the Smith Scoop.
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HVAC Changes, Water Impacts over Spring Break
Weekdays during the break between terms, March 23-27, 2026, Smith will be closed to the general public.
Chilled water throughout the building will be off on Monday, March 23. This might be an inconvenience, but will not hinder operations.
The ongoing heating, ventilation and air conditioning work (HVAC) will shift gears starting next week:
- The supply fan system (SF-12) that serves the southeast corner of Smith will be shut down on Monday, March 23. This is earlier than orginally scheduled. After some testing days, work will begin on upgrading the entire system for better control over heat and air in those sections of the student union. During this work period, there will be no heat or AC in this area. The shutdown will directly impact Student Media, the Helen Gordon Infant/Toddler Center, Smith's Place, La Casa Latina Student Cultural Center, the Pacific Islander, Asian and Asian American (PIAAA) Student Center, Multicultural Retention Services, south event spaces on the third floor, Campus AV office and the basement study space. At this time, none of these departments (except the infant/toddler center) is planning to relocate. Work is expected to run through September.
- Work on Supply Fan 4 — which serves the Mezzanines, northeast ground floor and basement — will be completed by the end of spring break. Folks in those areas are already noticing air movement in their HVAC as the work is being finished and inspected.
- In the basement, work is underway removing Supply Fan 1 and connecting the Veterans Resource Center and Quiet Prayer and Meditation Lounge to the SF-4 system. It is scheduled to be completed by the end of April.
You can read more critical maintenance updates on HVAC, elevators and the roof work below.
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Carpet Cleaning Through March 20
Relay Resources is doing some deep cleaning in Smith. This includes carpets and floor cleaning in individual offices.
Relay staff will move chairs and garbage cans to facilitate cleaning, however, it is recommended you remove personal items from the floor but you are not required to. Work will begin on Sunday night on the upper floor and move down the building as the week progresses.
Crews may return the next night to do post-cleaning vacuum.
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Portland State and Smith hosted illumination displays featuring LAIKA Studios animation during the Portland Winter Light Festival last month. In this peek from inside the second-floor study lounge, a software-controlled projection system coordinates the lively images seen on the windows of Smith.
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Reduced Custodial During Break
During the break between terms, March 22-28, daily custodial service in the student union will be suspended to save on expenses. In many areas, there will be no service during the week. If you see or experience something that requires immediate service, contact building manager Mercedes Youngston.
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Nominate an Outstanding Student Employee for Recognition
Every year, PSU honors the invaluable contributions of our more than 2,000 student employees at the annual Student Employment Awards. These students bring diverse experiences and skills to our community, and this event allows us to celebrate their exceptional work.
There are five individual award categories for student employees:
- Incredible Service to the Community
- Leadership
- Outstanding Advocacy
- Key Contributor
- Rising Star
From these finalists, one student will be selected as Student Employee of the Year, awarded on May 1.
Help PSU recognize these outstanding student employees by submitting a nomination! The deadline for nominations is Thursday, March 19.
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A 1962 photo of the "College Center" kitchen in what is now the basement of Smith. The University cafeteria was located in Smith for many years.
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Cafeteria Operations Returning to Smith
The Board of Trustees has approved funds to renovate the Smith dining area, moving all University student cafeteria functions to the student union. This is part of the new Housing building project happening on the site of Blackstone and Montgomery halls.
What is now Smith’s Kitchen will be converted into a multi-station dining hall for those with PSU food plans. This project is in the very early stages so little more is known on specific services and the impacts. It is expected that, like at the current Ondine facility, those without meal plans can still drop by to purchase a meal from the buffet options on campus.
The new Housing building is scheduled to open in fall 2028. It is expected the Cafeteria will open at that time as well.
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Construction —
HVAC Work Shifts to Southeast; Elevator Updates
For those with pounding walls or cooler-than-normal workspaces, it seems like the critical maintenance updates in Smith will never end. But it will.
As you might recall, the ASPSU Student Fee Committee approved bond funds support in 2022 and additional funds in 2025 in order to complete almost $15 million in deferred maintenance projects at the student union. The work includes heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades (Smith has 10 HVAC systems), elevator improvements and replacement of the student union roof.
In addition to the HVAC work listed at the start of this newsletter, here are where things stand:
- Elevator upgrades have started with the dismantling of the Mezzanine elevator (see photo, at right). The new elevator will be installed in the next few weeks and it should be back online by early May. Crews will then proceed to Elevator 6 in the main hallway. Elevator 7, the one that serves the sub-basement, will be upgraded over the summer.
- The Freight Elevator, which is used by organizations and building vendors to serve students, will be upgraded starting in mid-May. While it is offline, you will probably see more goods being transported in Elevator 7.
- This summer, the roof of Smith will be replaced with a more impervious, energy-efficient covering beginning in May. A contractor was selected by bid this month and Capital Projects will soon begin work on a more specific timeline as Smith prepares for the additional impact of that project.
- Work on the critical maintenance project is projected to end by mid-October. At present. The contractors are looking for efficiencies to finish the project before classes begin Sept.28.
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Things that have been uncovered during this work: Folks in Smith whose HVAC was turned off this fall say they have found the building to be fairly well insulated with interior offices and spaces holding a moderate temperature even during cold snaps. Folks with exterior windows have noticed temperature drops and that is being taken into account in preparations for the next phase.
One happy side-effect of the critical maintenance project: A fair amount of asbestos and lead materials are being permanently removed from the student union. As long as these materials were "encapsulated" they were of little danger, however, will be nice not to have to worry about them during future work.
The work in the basement to remove Supply Fan 1 means there will be improved lighting and some new paint in the corridor near the Veterans Resource Center. The Quiet Prayer & Meditation Lounge will be getting new lights and ceiling as well. Much of the ceiling was untouched during the 2023 renovation of the QPML.
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Shirts, Hoodies on Sale at University Market
Dress PSU proper for spring break: T-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies and rain jackets are on sale now at the University Market in Smith.
There are a variety of colors and styles available at special prices. Limited to stock on hand, so drop by soon! Open 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Thursday, until 5 p.m. on Friday.
The Market will be closed during the break between terms.
The Market on the ground floor of Smith has tap-to-pay. That means it’s easier than ever to get a energy drink or grab-and-go sandwich. The Market also offers hot coffee daily.
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Hoodies, rain jackets and T-shirts are on sale at the University Market until spring break week. The Market will be closed during the break.
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Learn more about the Performing Arts + Culture Center
A robust informational website was gone live for those interested in the progress of proposed performing arts center on campus. It will feature a Broadway-capable theater with state-of-the-art stage capabilities, community and academic theater, studios, classrooms and an onsite hotel.
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Thanks for taking the time to read the Smith Scoop.
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.
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