Last Chance to Weigh In on New High School Campus
- Hillsdale News
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
[January 23, 2026]
As planning for the new Ida B. Wells campus enters its final stages, Portland Public Schools will hold a final open house for community input on Wednesday, February 4, from 6–8 pm in the school cafeteria. This will be the last opportunity for public input before PPS starts the permit application process in March.
A public Design Commission review is scheduled for February 19, with registration available one week in advance at: https://www.portland.gov/ppd/design-commission/events/2026/2/19/2-19-26-design-commission-hearing
The focus of the February 4 open house will be on the aesthetics of the building facade, fencing and gates, and the overall “arrival experience.”
The latest plans and proposed design options were presented to the volunteer Design Advisory Group (DAG), made up of PPS staff and community members, on January 21.
Facade
The exterior of the building will feature “thin brick” tiles designed to give the appearance of solid brick. Because the tiles are thinner than traditional brick and non-structural, they pose no greater earthquake risk than other exterior materials. Design staff emphasized that the building has been engineered to exceed all seismic code requirements.
Four tile options were presented, ranging from a textured dark gray to a smoother, more metallic finish. A darker color will not affect interior temperatures, as a high-performance building envelope will prevent heat absorption.
Entry points, access, and circulation
The main entrance is located on the southeast side of the building near the primary parking lot, with a secondary entrance planned on the north side. Time-locked gates at both entrances will remain locked during school hours; late arrivals and visitors will buzz for access.
Improvements to access from Capitol Highway on the north include a more inviting entry “plaza,” with a raised crosswalk, ornamental plantings, and rebuilt grandstands creating a significantly improved approach.
In response to earlier community concerns, SW Trails pedestrian routes through the campus will remain accessible 24/7. Pedestrians will continue to be able to walk around campus via the east-side access road at all times. However, the north-south pathway through the campus will be closed to the public during school hours.
The southeast parking lot will be expanded to improve drop-off circulation, with two dedicated drop-off lanes that will not interfere with parking spaces. A secondary drop-off location will remain on the north side of campus.
DAG member and Hillsdale resident Don Baack noted that additional drop-off improvements could be made on Vermont to improve traffic circulation.
The total number of parking spaces for staff and students is expected to remain unchanged.
Fencing and gates
As in earlier versions of the plans, fencing has been pulled closer to buildings and athletic fields, away from property edges, minimizing its overall extent. In many locations, the building itself will serve as a barrier.
Renderings show multiple fencing types, including athletic fencing around sports fields (starting at four feet in height and varying by use) and six-foot “no-climb” fencing. The no-climb fencing will be transparent, with smaller openings designed to make climbing difficult. It will not include deterrents at the top.
Time-locked vehicular access gates are planned at both ends of the Rieke “road” connecting Capitol Highway to Vermont Street. How these gates will be used remains unclear. Design staff indicated that decisions about when gates are locked or open will be left to school administration.
Community access concerns
While the latest design responds to earlier concerns about pedestrian access, attendees at the January 21 meeting raised a different set of questions: public access to sports fields.
Currently, the track is fenced but typically unlocked, while the baseball, softball, and practice fields are unfenced and easily accessible when not in use by the school. Under the new design, all athletic fields will be enclosed by fencing and locked gates.
Staff indicated that baseball and softball fields are expected to be locked at all times, in accordance with PPS policy. The track is expected to remain accessible after school hours, though this could change. No information was provided regarding access to the tennis courts.
A new courtyard designed to capture the site’s expansive western views will be off-limits to the general public, possibly even after school hours.
These concerns highlight a fundamental tension between district policy and a more inclusive vision of community engagement. While PPS staff appropriately prioritize student needs, there is also a strong community expectation for access to open space on publicly owned grounds.
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—Valeurie Friedman
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