The engineering building, a $70 million project, is scheduledfor ground breaking in 2003. Despite the small amount of the grant,university officials say it sets a precedent for federal assistancein the university's effort to create a nationally renownedengineering program and to help to meet the State's goal ofdoubling the number of graduates in engineering by 2010. The cityalready has committed $5 million toward the university's efforts,and the state is selling another $7.2 million in bonds to helpcover construction costs.

Some of the state funds will be used to renovate and upgrade theuniversity's electrical and computer engineering facilities, thefirst phase in the University's plans to create a Northwest Centerfor Engineering, Science, and Technology located at the PSU FourthAvenue building. The plan includes renovating more space in theFourth Avenue Building and constructing a second building on thesite. The University will pay for the debt service on the bondsprimarily with lease revenues paid by a private tenant occupyinganother portion of the Fourth Avenue Building.

The computer science and electrical and computer engineeringdepartments are currently located in the Portland Center forAdvanced Technology, next to the new Urban Center. The Universityplans to use the space in the PCAT building for classrooms to meetthe large enrollment increases experienced campus-wide and forother general use functions for the University. Long term plans forthe University call for the demolition of the PCAT building andconstruction of a larger building, including retail and otherbusinesses.