Tag: Gina Berquist

Community, Construction, Infrastructure

Spectator Sports in Montavilla

This summer, Multnomah University will begin work on a new athletics field that will host competitive men’s and women’s soccer matches. The project will create a regulation-sized synthetic turf soccer field with lights and a scoreboard. Beyond hosting games, the enhancements will support expanded student fitness and recreation opportunities.

Matches at the new field will be open to the public, and the University encourages neighborhood attendance. “We would love for community members to attend the games,” remarked Multnomah University representative Gina Berquist. Located at 8435 NE Glisan Street, the athletics field is accessible from NE Glisan Street, NE 87th Ave, and NE Pacific Street. However, due to COVID-19 restrictions, the upcoming fall schedule is unconfirmed and contingent on future guidance. The University’s Athletics site will post the fall soccer schedule when confirmed with other Cascade Collegiate Conference members.

The school hopes to wrap up the permitting process soon, allowing the completion of work by the end of summer and ahead of the upcoming season. When completed, this new field will provide residents with an opportunity to watch a favorite Portland sport played in the neighborhood. Keep an eye on gomulions.com for updates on the schedule and support the athletes by attending the games.

Rendering courtesy of Multnomah University

Cascade Collegiate Conference Schools

University of British Columbia
Bushnell University
Corban University
Eastern Oregon University
The Evergreen State College
The College of Idaho
Lewis-Clark State College

Multnomah University
Northwest University
Oregon Institute of Technology
Southern Oregon University
Walla Walla University
Warner Pacific University

Demolition

Multnomah University A-Frame Demo

Multnomah University will demolish the structurally-compromised A-Frame building on the northeast portion of the campus. The damp wooded environment surrounding the structure’s all-wood construction caused its gradual decline over the last decade. Consequently, the building served as a storage space for the school during the previous nine years.

According to Gina Berquist, Vice President of Enrollment Management at the University, staff reluctantly chose to remove the building from a concern for students’ and employees’ wellbeing. “It was a difficult decision to make to demolish it, but we believe our campus will be safer because of it.” Demolition Permit 21-027906 is currently under review but is not subject the Portland’s 35-day delay period.

In 1974, one of the university’s founding presidents, Dr. Willard Aldrich, commissioned the A-Frame’s construction. It served as an event space, study hall and housed student government offices before becoming storage space. Multnomah University has not announced plans to replace this building after its demolition.

UPDATE – June 5th 2021 add image of site after A-Frame’s removal.

Construction, Demolition

Demolition at Multnomah University

Multnomah University will demolish one building on its campus to provide expanded athletics space. Part of the field expansion requires the removal of a few nearby trees. The University recently submitted demolition permit 20-217562 to begin work on the project at 8435 NE Glisan Street.

“This permit is to demolish the Campus Support Services Building and to cut down a few trees near it,” explained Gina Berquist, Vice President of Enrollment Management at Multnomah University. The building is on the east edge of the field near the parking lot. The removal of the maintenance building will create more field space near the gymnasium. “Our desire is to provide a little more space in the field for our athletes to practice and play in.” Said Berquist.

Like many education institutions, Multnomah University’s campus is closed to the public. However, classroom activities continue regular schedules, with safety modifications. Group practice for team athletics is not currently allowed at the University. Berquist acknowledged that the existing fields are not in use but that this work will improve post-pandemic activities. “At this point… there have been no practices due to this COVID season. [We’er,] looking forward to moving beyond COVID.”