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Multnomah plans campus makeover

In the year 2020, alumni may need a map to find their way around the Multnomah Bible College and Biblical Seminary campus. Townhouses for undergraduate and seminary students will replace the houses on Pacific Street. A new building on the west side of 87th Street and two wings added on either side of Bradley Hall will create more classrooms. An apartment complex on the east side of 87th Street will provide housing for married and single seminary students.

Many freshmen will see some of these and other changes before they graduate. For instance, Multnomah will soon extend North Sutcliffe Hall for more office space. To make room for the seminary building, maintenance will move its buildings and equipment behind the gymnasium.

The Student Commons is the next priority after the seminary building. An expanded Student Commons will include conference rooms; a new, spacious cafeteria; more office space; and the bookstore. A two-story addition to the east side of the existing student center will create more space.

Last November, the city of Portland approved Multnomah's impact mitigation plan, also referred to as a master plan. The plan indicates the environmental changes such as new buildings, landscaping, and parking space Multnomah intends to make to its campus over the next 20 years.

The city of Portland requires an impact mitigation plan from businesses and institutions every 10 years. Paul Griffin, senior vice president of finance and administration, and Lloyd Helm, director of environmental services, worked with an architect and the city to prepare the plan.

They looked for the best way to use the grounds and serve students, alumni, faculty and staff. If developed according to the plan, the campus will accommodate a maximum of 1,200 students. This will allow for considerable growth in the seminary if Multnomah maintains the current ratio of seminary students to college students.

Negotiations with city officials resulted in changes to the first proposed master plan. The officials demanded that Multnomah build the seminary building right up to the sidewalk. Through negotiation, Mr. Helm gained approval to set the seminary building back from the road and align it with Sutcliffe Hall.

Parking became an issue with city officials as well. According to city requirements, the campus has too many parking spaces. Several people from the neighborhood testified in two different hearings about the parking problems. As a result, city officials allowed more parking spaces.

In addition, the city officials insisted Multnomah contain parking within the core of the campus. "To be able to comply with that cost us some hardships, but we have to give some to get some," Mr. Helm said.

A pedestrian plaza, or landscaped entrance, will replace the parking circle in front of Sutcliffe Hall. A similar plaza will sit in front of the seminary building. The city requires that Multnomah create a welcoming, attractive entrance to the campus.

To compensate for the circle parking spaces, Multnomah will expand the staff parking lot between the existing seminary offices and White Hall.

"The master plan involved a very lengthy process, but, in the end, it is very rewarding to have," Mr. Helm said.

The plan is now filed with the city. It consists of several phases, although Multnomah is not bound to them. In 10 years the college will re-evaluate and perhaps revise the master plan and seek city approval again. City regulations and Multnomah's needs may have changed by then.

Mr. Helm and Mr. Griffin agreed that developing the plan is an exciting process. "We see this as providing spaces and services to students and faculty that will enable them to do what they do more efficiently and in a nicer environment," Mr. Griffin said.