Historic Buildings Surveys

Permanent URI for this collection

https://hdl.handle.net/1794/28779

Within the established period of significance (1876-1974), forty-nine buildings were also surveyed and recorded for the Campus Heritage Landscape Plan. The survey forms used for the forty-nine buildings are similar to the forms in common use by the City of Eugene.

All of these historic resources received rankings based on their historic significance and integrity, creating a hierarchy that allows for protection of the most important resources while allowing for needed new development.

For more information, visit the Historic Buildings Surveys webpage.

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Now showing 1 - 7 of 7

Open Access
Cover Sheet for Grouped Resources : Straub/Earl
(University of Oregon, 2006) Johnson, Susan; Burk, Kathryn; Stoller, Melissa; Mertz, Kathleen; Mendoca, Elise
Open Access
Historic Resource Survey Form : Onyx Bridge
(University of Oregon, 2006) Johnson, Susan; Stoller, Melissa; Burk, Kathryn
In 1960 construction was underway on the new East Wing to the Science Building. The building was constructed to house laboratories and offices. Later named Onyx Bridge, so named because it was designed to straddle Onyx Street (although the street was closed during construction and never reopened), the unique building was a result of a new type of architectural design - an external structural support system. The entire building is supported by steel girders, covering the outside, and towers at each end of the “bridge.” By using this method, no further support was required within the structure. The idea behind this design was so that the internal structure could be changed at any time without concerns of load support or stress on the structure. Therefore, with no permanent interior floor plan, the windows were placed without regard to what they would look like on the exterior. The criss-crossed exterior girders are supposed to be the only noticeable feature of the completed building. Faculty later complained of too few windows and vibration. After the building’s completion and subsequent inspection, the exterior supports were covered in asbestos as a fire safety precaution. By 1984, removal of the asbestos was ordered and an exterior fire sprinkler system was installed. As originally designed, four additional stories were planned for Onyx Bridge for a total of eight stories. This design was never carried forward.
Open Access
Historic Resource Survey Form : Peterson Hall
(University of Oregon, 2006) Johnson, Susan; Stoller, Melissa; Burk, Kathryn
Peterson Hall, formerly known as the Education Building, is a brick, Mediterranean style building constructed in 1916. It was designed along with Gilbert Hall, formerly known as the Commerce Building, to be twin “entry pylons” for the Memorial Quadrangle. Lawrence designed primary campus buildings such as Peterson and Gilbert in exotic styles, as seen in his other works on Memorial Quad, while he reserved the Colonial Revival style for secondary buildings (Education East, Education West, Women’s Memorial Quad buildings). Peterson was also Lawrence’s first building to be built on campus. These two buildings, along with Condon and Chapman Halls, Knight Library and the Museum of Art, form the major group of campus buildings of Lawrence’s career. Peterson was built to house the School of Education, which began in 1910 and was the university’s fourth professional school. Peterson Hall housed the School of Education for five years before it was relocated to Lawrence’s new Education Building in 1921. Peterson Hall next housed the Law School until it moved to Fenton Hall. Peterson then became the center of the Liberal Arts College housing the department of languages and social studies. Circa 1951 there was a large addition to both Peterson and Gilbert Halls. The ensemble became known as the Commonwealth Complex. (The Commonwealth Building was later completely razed for construction of the new Lillis Business Complex.) The early 1950s held many alterations for Peterson (Education) and Gilbert. The Commonwealth addition obstructed the Dads’ Gates Axis originally intended by Ellis Lawrence and caused a need to elevate the grade of the courtyard. The first flight of Gilbert and Peterson’s entry stairs was removed to meet the level of the new re-grade. The most startling alteration was the truncation, or flattening, of the gabled parapets on their entry façades. The Yellow Buckeye tree in the courtyard was received from the governor of Ohio and Ohio State University in 1958 as the result of a bet on that year’s Rose Bowl game between Ohio State and Oregon.
Open Access
Historic Resource Survey Form : Robinson Theatre
(University of Oregon, 2006) Johnson, Susan; Burk, Kathryn; Stoller, Melissa
Designed by Annand & Kennedy Architects & Engineers of Portland, the University Theatre was approved by the Board of Regents in April of 1948. Many students, alumni, professors and staff voiced objections to the plan to attach such a modern structure to the historic Villard Hall, a National Historic Landmark. The then Dean of AAA, Sidney W. Little, believed the theatre addition would be an aesthetically pleasing contrast against Villard. The new theatre held an audience of 400 and opened in November of 1949. It is considered the west end of Villard Hall, not a separate building. The cost of construction was $468,000 including the remodeling of the interior of Villard. Robinson has a one story lobby and reaches four stories at the “fly tower.” Robinson has no decorative features. The Theatre was renamed in 1976 for Horace Robinson, theater faculty member from 1932 to 1976. He is credited with consulting on the design of the theater, especially the interior. Robinson Theatre is on the Dad’s Gate Axis and near the Deady Hall Walk Axis. Many significant trees occupy the grounds, although many more were lost when the theatre was constructed. Grading during construction of the Robinson Theatre stage buried the Normal Gate, a wrought iron arbor installed in 1885 by the Normal School Graduates as a memorial to themselves due to the closure of the two-year teaching certificate program in 1885. It was finally unearthed 55 years later by University of Oregon Historic Preservation Students in 2004-2005, who then had it repaired and reinstalled for Preservation Week 2005. Retired Professor Emeritus Horace Robinson came to campus during May 2005 for the rededication ceremony and gave a speech at the age of 95.
Open Access
Historic Resource Survey Form : University Health and Planning Center
(University of Oregon, 2006) Johnson, Susan; Burk, Kathryn; Stoller, Melissa
Construction began on the new Infirmary in 1965 and was completed in early 1966 at a cost of around $1.0 million. This unassuming building was designed in the modern style by Balzhiser, Seder & Rhodes, a local architectural firm that has done a good deal of work on the UO campus. Originally “H”-shaped and of approximately 38,000 square feet, the Health Center has two floors and a basement. It has a concrete foundation and is built of reinforced brick walls on the first floor and pre-cast concrete panels on the second. There are concrete arched lintels over the doors and the metal-framed casement windows. It has a standing-seam metal roof. The ground floor arches appear to endorse the historical architecture on campus, yet the Health Center remains true to its modern form. Its architecture is non-descript. This building was designed to house the Infirmary and has continued to do so. When it was first completed the second floor was designed as an in-patient unit with hospital beds. Recently, the medical emphasis has been changed to that of outpatient services. Over time, the Center’s piecemeal alterations have separated related services into random areas of the building. It has undergone multiple interior remodels over the past forty years – room by room, almost yearly since its completion.
Open Access
Historic Resource Survey Form : Villard Hall
(University of Oregon, 2006) Johnson, Susan; Burk, Kathryn; Stoller, Melissa
Designed by Warren H. Williams, noted architect of iron front buildings from Albany to Portland, Villard Hall was the second building constructed on the University of Oregon campus due to a grant from University patron Henry Villard. It was referred to as the New College Building during construction but by the dedication ceremony it received the name Villard Hall, in honor of Henry Villard. He had assisted the university in 1881 with a donation of $7000 to erase the remaining debt from the construction of Deady Hall (he was a friend of Matthew Deady). He also donated $1000 for a library, $1000 for science equipment, established five $250 scholarships and a $50,000 endowment to UO. Henry Villard was born in Bavaria as Ferdinand Heinrich Gustav Hilgard. He changed his name when he was 18 years old and immigrated to the US. He settled in Illinois where he became an English reporter for the German newspapers and was purportedly a friend of Abraham Lincoln. He married Abolitionist Fannie Garrison. He studied finance and supervised US holdings of German businessmen. He amassed great wealth through his land holdings on New York’s Madison Avenue and through his ownership of the Northern Pacific Railroad and General Electric. McKim, Mead & White designed his house in New York.
Open Access
Historic Resource Survey Form : Volcanology
(University of Oregon, 2006) Johnson, Susan; Stoller, Melissa; Burk, Kathryn
The Volcanology building was constructed in 1936 as the campus infirmary. It was initially planned as part of a larger three story complex in a different location. The current simplified two story version was built instead. The building is constructed of poured concrete with exterior wall material of brick and stucco. Decorative features include concrete pediment and surround on entry of south façade, as well as concrete pediments over upper windows on east and west façade. Other decorative features include brick quoins, a parapet diaper pattern of brick and recessed mortar joints, coping and wrought iron hand rail at south entrance. Final approval of construction was received in 1935 with the allocation of $100,000 from the PWA. The infirmary was viewed as a campus/university hospital, it provided basic student health services. The location, the site of the former Drill Hall, was part of Ellis Lawrence’s contribution to the campus expansion along 13th Ave. The Volcanology/Infirmary building is considered less significant than most of Lawrence’s other campus buildings due to its relative isolation from his earlier projects. In 1951 a penthouse addition was added as a residence for the campus physician. In 1964 a rear addition was added as part of the science laboratories, in the form of a concrete bunker with 24” to 42” thick walls to house a four MEV particle accelerator. The particle accelerator is used in nuclear physics to produce beams of energy charged particles needed to observe objects as small as the atomic nucleus. In 1968 the building was renamed Volcanology and underwent an interior remodel, converting it to classrooms and offices. Volcanology has excellent integrity despite its interior and exterior alterations. The building may have National Register eligibility due to its association with Lawrence (campus plan and building design). It is considered to be a secondary level resource (medium significance with excellent integrity).

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