OSU-Cascades opens its new, long-awaited Bend home

The public got a look at Oregon State University-Cascades’ new campus in Bend Tuesday when the school hosted an open house to celebrate completion of its first academic building.

The 10-acre campus will provide classrooms and lab space, as well as a dining hall and residential housing for 300 students.

Tykeson Hall, which was completed this month, is the first building that students will get to use.

The new dining hall and residential dorms are expected to be completed by January.

The new students will be living in Juniper Hall on the Central Oregon Community College campus for the time being.

This is the first public university to open in Oregon in more than 50 years, OSU-Cascades expects 70 percent of its students to be from the Central Oregon area.

“Until now, Central Oregon was the state’s largest population area without a four-year university. Through OSU Cascades, we’re closing that gap, and we’re closing it for good,” Oregon State University President Ed Ray said.

OSU-Cascades is expecting 1,200 students this fall. Campus officials expect that number to increase 3,000- 5,000 students by 2025.

For student Phillip Orellana, it’s putting OSU-Cascades on the map when it comes to providing education for students.

“I couldn’t be more happy than to start new and fresh with a whole new background. Basically, we’re actually making history with this new campus,” Orellana said.

Bend Mayor Pro Tem Sally Russell said the city has been planning for the growth the university will help create on Bend’s Westside.

Russell said the city has included ideas and plans in the current urban growth boundary.

OSU-Cascades will encourage students to bike or use public transit. to help reduce their impact on traffic in the area.

Gov. Kate Brown said it has been a long time coming for a new campus to serve Central Oregon.

“We want people who love this community, who grew up in this community to be able to complete their four year degrees here,” she said. “And we want these students to start their own businesses to become an entrepreneur to become and educator right in this community.”

OSU-Cascades’ first fall term on its new campus is set to begin Sept. 21.