Historic Buildings Surveys
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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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Browsing Historic Buildings Surveys by Author "Helwick, Sarah"
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Item Open Access Historic Resource Survey Form : Condon Hall(University of Oregon, 2006) Johnson, Susan; Helwick, Sarah; Steverson, EricaBuilt in the Mediterranean style, Condon Hall was designed by Ellis Lawrence. The original portion is a two-story brick building with a rectangular footprint. From the main east entry, terra cotta tiles create a Roman arch that is supported by pilasters. The carved wood, metal and glass door, surrounding pilasters and arch emphasize the center projecting bay and symmetrical rhythm. Ornamental brick bands below the cornice and elaborate terra cotta tiles on top of the parapet frame a terra cotta cornice. Brick patterns, including basket-weave motif, accent the upper windows. An addition, completed in 1967, is connected to the south side of the building and is set back from Memorial Quadrangle. The International Style addition is a three-story building with an irregular footprint. The horizontal bands of windows are set within a concrete frame emphasizing its International stylistic characteristics. A sunken courtyard with a ramp in front of the south addition and to the south of the original structure provides a universally accessible route. Condon Hall was named for Thomas Condon, famed Oregon geologist and one of the University's first professors. It originally housed the departments of geology, geography, and psychology. Additionally, it was also the temporary home to part of the U of O library until Knight Library was built. Today, Condon houses Geography, Anthropology, and Environmental Science departments. Condon Hall was originally intended as the north wing of a larger building that would house the science department. This plan was abandoned in the 1940's, and the 1967 south addition did not utilize the brick knock-out panel that Lawrence provided. This addition is stylistically similar to the adjacent Prince Lucien Campbell Hall and was designed by the same architectural firm. In stark contrast to the stylistic characteristics of the original building, an exterior, semi-enclosed stairway replaced the original fire escape in 1974. Condon Hall is an architecturally distinctive work, one of six Ellis Lawrence designed buildings on the main University quadrangle, known as Memorial Quadrangle (includes Condon Hall, Knight Library, Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, Chapman Hall, Peterson Hall and Gilbert Hall). So, not only was Condon designed by a significant Oregon architect and a man important to campus planning and the history of the architecture program at the U of O, the building is located in a place crucial to the story of the campus’ development under Lawrence. That is, it is an integral member of an ensemble of buildings referred to as one of Lawrence's greatest works. Condon Hall is in good condition and has good integrity. The south addition and western fire escape alteration do not detract from Condon's presence in the Memorial Quadrangle. Because of its significant connection to Ellis Lawrence and its contribution to the integrity of Memorial Quadrangle, Condon Hall is eligible individually for the National Register and is ranked as a primary resource.Item Open Access Historic Resource Survey Form : Johnson Hall(University of Oregon, 2006) Johnson, Susan; Helwick, Sarah; Steverson, EricaJohnson Hall houses the University's administrative offices, including the Office of the President and the Provost. Influenced by Beaux-arts and classical revival styles, this brick building, accented with terra cotta tiles, has a symmetrical design plan and a rectangular footprint. The north entry sidewalk features a center "O" topiary. From this side, the projecting center bay's two-story portico is supported by six concrete Ionic columns that are covered with terra cotta tiles. The entablature above the portico is decorated with dentil molding and other terra cotta tile decoration, such as the University of Oregon seal in the center. The terra cotta cornice and frieze continue along the entire perimeter of the building. The south entrance of Johnson Hall features a cast iron and glass awning described in Knighton's plans as "Marquise Metal." The east, west and south sides of Johnson Hall's windows are accented with green fabric awnings. These awnings are not original to the building and it is unknown if they were included in the original design intent, but they are evident in early photographs. Completed on November 8, 1915, the Administration Building, as it was originally known, was designed by William C. Knighton, Oregon’s State Architect. Costing over $100,000, it was campus’ most expensive building constructed at the time. In 1918 the Administration Building was renamed Johnson Hall after John Wesley Johnson, the first president of the University of Oregon. Ellis Lawrence is somewhat connected to this building. He advised Knighton on the design and President Campbell referred to him as "advisory architect." He also advised the University on various issues regarding this building including acoustical problems and maintaining the terra cotta "Administration Building" plaque when the building's name was changed. The placement of Johnson Hall between the Lawrence campus building projects (i.e., the Women’s Quad, Museum of Art, and Knight Library), and the Old Campus Quad, which contain the University’s first buildings, is symbolic because it stands as a transition between these two significant periods in University history. Johnson Hall’s presence, building technology, and sheer expense symbolized the University’s transition into a new era of progressive change as exemplified in the University's subsequent growth and ambitious building projects. Its applied terra cotta decoration, architectural form, and construction of reinforced concrete make this building unique to the campus at the time of its construction. Originally, Johnson Hall featured the Guild Theater and an impressive Povey Brothers stained glass skylight that covered the entire center of the second floor. The theatre was converted to office space and the glass skylights were removed when Robinson Theater was completed in 1949. The glass panels were dispersed around campus and can now be found in Johnson Hall Conference Room, Lawrence Hall, and Erb Memorial Union. Johnson Hall was the site of various student-led protests during the Vietnam Era. In fact, UO students took over Johnson Hall in 1970. Subsequently, sixty-one students were arrested. In 1984 the architectural firm of Brockmeyer McDonnell executed an exterior restoration of Johnson Hall. Among the projects included in this restoration were the removal and replacement of the roof, repair of terra cotta tiles, repointing of brickwork, resealing of windows, and patching of plasterwork. In 2004, the Project Management Group and UO Facility Services performed a historical improvements study and had several recommendations.Item Open Access Historic Resource Survey Form : Knight Library(University of Oregon, 2006) Johnson, Susan; Helwick, Sarah; Steverson, EricaEllis Fuller Lawrence’s original plan called for an auditorium to be built in this site, as the termination of the south axis and most important building in his beaux-arts plan. The axis extended from the auditorium to Dad’s Gates and beyond to the train station. However, the decision was made by President Hall to build a library in its place. The library was funded by the Public Works Administration (“PWA”) and the Works Progress Administration (“WPA”) program funds and is representative of the last surge of building before WWII. The library has been referred to as Oregon’s best example of integrated art and architecture. It is the most fully executed of Lawrence’s buildings incorporating sculpture, painting and metalwork, much done by students, graduates and professors. Much of the interior artwork is mostly intact. The building’s name was changed in 1994 to honor Phillip Knight, President and CEO of Nike, Inc and a University of Oregon alum. Knight Library, along with the Memorial Quad, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 9, 1990. The original Lawrence building from 1937 was nominated and listed and the 1950 and 1966 additions were listed as non-contributing. At the time the National Park Service accepted the building, the 1994 addition had yet to be built. The library was listed under criteria A and C: it was listed under A because it was funded by Public Works Administration funds and listed under C as a significant element in Lawrence’s Beaux Arts plan and for the fine craftsmanship displayed on the exterior and interior of the library. The original portion of the building is listed in the nomination as Beaux Arts Eclecticism while the additions are Modernistic. Some elements of the original design reflect a “moderne” character including the decorative motifs, and functional elements such as entrance lanterns.Item Open Access Historic Resource Survey Form : Marabel B. Frohnmayer Music Building(University of Oregon, 2006) Johnson, Susan; Helwick, Sarah; Steverson, EricaMarAbel B. Fohnmayer Music Building has undergone a number of changes throughout the years. In 1921, the University of Oregon constructed the School of Music building, designed by Ellis Lawrence. The original building consisted of a long, rectangular two-story building with wood shingles and fabric awnings. A concert hall was also a part of the original design plan, which was completed in 1924 and connected to the shingled building. Both the concert hall and the two-story building were in Ellis Lawrence's original design plan. At the time of its construction, the site was quite distant from the main campus, due to the faculty’s desire to be as far away as possible from the railroad (then Franklin Blvd). World War II army barracks, located to the north of the building (but not connected to any of the original structures), temporarily housed classrooms and practice rooms, and did so until the 1977 addition was completed. There is speculation that the south wing of the original structure was made of surplus World War I barracks. While twostory SATC (Students Army Training Corps) barracks were constructed near University Avenue in 1918, no evidence has been found to support the claim that the music building was constructed of these barracks three years later.Item Open Access Historic Resource Survey Form : Oregon Hall(University of Oregon, 2006) Johnson, Susan; Helwick, Sarah; Steverson, EricaOregon Hall was designed in 1974 by the architectural firm Zimmer, Gunsul, Frasca Partnership of Portland. Oregon Hall is a brick asymmetrical building with windows in horizontal bands of six panes. The west wing of the building is three stories. This wing features a recessed entry that faces south with recessed balconies above. On the north side of the west wing, a third floor terrace is featured. The east wing of the building is four stories. The two wings converge at the northeast corners and are emphasized by a tower-like projection. Oregon Hall currently houses administration offices including admissions, financial aid, registrar, and student affairs. These offices were previously housed in Emerald Hall, which was demolished. In 1962 the University hired urban designer Lawrence Lackey to create a new campus plan. He produced a "fixed image map" which projected future campus development. The placement of Oregon Hall, along with the Bean Residence Hall Complex and various science facilities, were a part of Lackey's plan. Oregon Hall was built during a transitional period on campus. Although Christopher Alexander published The Oregon Experiment in the early 1970s, buildings influenced by this plan do not show up on campus until 1976. It is possible that Oregon Hall was one of the last buildings constructed prior to the adaptation of Alexander's plan. However, more research is needed to determine this. Oregon Hall has high intensity and is in excellent condition, but currently it has little significance, lacks distinction and is not fifty years old. Therefore, it is not eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. At present, it is categorized as a non-contributing resource given its very low significance relative to other campus buildings.Item Open Access Historic Resource Survey Form : Walton Hall Complex(University of Oregon, 2006) Johnson, Susan; Steverson, Erica; Helwick, SarahWalton Hall was built in the period after WWII in response to effects of the baby boom, which increased student enrollment at the University. It was built along with the Earl (1954-55), Hamilton (1962), and Bean Complexes (1964). The original name of the residence hall was changed from George Rebec Hall to Joshua J. Walton Hall in 1958 after the members of Rebec House protested the use of the same name. Joshua J. Walton was a Eugene city judge and served on the Board of Regents from its inception, from 1872 – 1906. The design concept of Walton, according to then Housing Director, H.P. Barnhart, was based on the idea of creating small unit living with large unit management. This meant a centralized kitchen, but separate dining halls in each unit; additionally, a recreation room, snack machines and laundry facilities in the basement for the entire complex, but individual lounges in each separate unit. The unit design of Walton also allowed the University to house both men and women in the same complex, but in different units. At one point in time, men were housed in Adams, Clark, DeCou Halls and women in the remaining seven halls. The design concept also included the idea of outdoor living, providing residents with easy access to outdoor patios through sliding glass doors from the lounge areas.