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Oregon State Approves $42M for OSU-Cascades Student Recreation Center
The new 40,000-square-foot facility will expand health, wellness and recreation services for students.
Published on Mar. 8, 2026
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The Oregon State Legislature has approved $42 million in state-backed bonds to support construction of a student health and recreation center at Oregon State University – Cascades. The planned 40,000-square-foot facility will be the first comprehensive on-campus center dedicated to student health, wellness and recreation, providing flexible indoor spaces for fitness and recreation, dedicated space for clinical health services and mental health counseling, and two all-purpose outdoor recreation fields.
Why it matters
The new student recreation center will deliver essential services that directly support student life, learning and retention at OSU-Cascades, especially benefiting under-represented, first generation, low income and rural students who often have limited access to health and wellness resources.
The details
The funding will also support 24 acres of land remediation, which will provide additional buildable land for the center, as well as for future academic buildings and student housing as enrollment continues to grow. OSU-Cascades students played a pivotal role in advancing the project, voting in 2017 to increase student fees to commit $20 million towards the $42 million total cost.
- The Oregon State Legislature approved the $42 million in state-backed bonds in March 2026.
- Construction is expected to begin in 2028, following land remediation efforts.
The players
Oregon State University – Cascades
A branch campus of Oregon State University located in Bend, Oregon, offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
Sherm Bloomer
Chancellor and dean of OSU-Cascades.
Whitney McFarlane
President of the Associated Students of Cascades Campus.
Anthony Broadman
Oregon state senator who submitted the project for consideration by the legislature and advocated for it.
What they’re saying
“The student health and recreation center will deliver essential services that directly support student life, learning and retention, and reap rewards for student success and the local, regional and state economies.”
— Sherm Bloomer, Chancellor and dean of OSU-Cascades (mycentraloregon.com)
“Students have said for years that access to health and wellness resources is essential to our success. This investment shows student voices matter, and we're proud to have helped make this project a reality.”
— Whitney McFarlane, President of the Associated Students of Cascades Campus (mycentraloregon.com)
“I'm especially grateful to students for helping make the Student Success Center possible, and I'm proud to support OSU-Cascades as a driver of economic development and will continue to champion its success in Salem.”
— Anthony Broadman, Oregon state senator (mycentraloregon.com)
What’s next
Construction is expected to begin in 2028, following land remediation efforts.
The takeaway
The new student recreation center at OSU-Cascades will provide critical health, wellness and recreation resources for students, especially those from underserved backgrounds, helping to support student success and the continued growth and development of the campus and the surrounding region.
