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 - 20 of 56

Open Access
Tree Tops Historic Context
(University of Oregon, 2016) Campus Planning, University of Oregon
Tree Tops--also known historically as the Hampton House, Campbell Church House, and most recently the Chancellor’s House--was built from 1908-1910 for prominent local businessman Alton Hampton. One of the first grand houses to be built in the southern, hillier area of Fairmount (known as Fairmount Heights), Tree Tops was part of a building and population boom in Eugene. According to the Fairmount History Project, a record-high 266 homes, 56 in Fairmount alone, were built in 1909. Tree Tops is one of several important early estates on the electric streetcar Fairmount Loop. Other important, adjacent estates include the Washburne Estate (c. 1920), the Fellman-Jewett Residence (1921), and the McMorran House (1925), which continues to house the acting University of Oregon president. Like Alton Hampton, George McMorran and his partner Carl Washburne were successful Eugene businessmen. Wilson H. Jewett was a Eugene lumberman and the brother of Mrs. Washburne. These estates, built into the same steeply sloping hillside, all have panoramic views of the University and the city below.
Open Access
Historic Resource Survey Form : Howe Field/Howe Gates and Associated Wall and Fence
(University of Oregon, 2014) Thompson, Christine; Phillips, Ann
Howe Field was constructed in 1935. It is named in honor of Herbert Crombie Howe, a professor in the English department at the University of Oregon from 1902-1940. Dr. Howe, a long-standing supporter of athletes’ rights, was a faculty representative to the Pacific Coast Conference from 1915-1959 (now PAC-12 although the correlation between the two conferences is questioned) and a member of the athletic board. In 1938, the wrought iron entrance gates, concrete wall and ticket booth, and wrought iron fence were added to the perimeter of the field from McArthur Court south to 18th Avenue. The project was largely funded by the WPA. Additional funding was provided by donations from the classes of 1918, 1919, 1930, and 1936 along with the Soldiers’ Memorial fund and the Associated Students of the University of Oregon (ASUO). The University of Oregon baseball team played at Howe Field until 1981 when the program was cut due to budgetary restrictions. The University of Oregon softball team began playing on the field in 1987 and continues to play there today. The first baseball club at the University of Oregon was organized in 1877. A general lack of interest in the sport prevented a University sponsored program until the autumn of 1905 when the sport of baseball was adopted as a regular college activity. Over the years, baseball games have been played in numerous locations including the northeast corner of 13th Avenue and Kincaid Street, in the area directly south of Hayward Field, and finally at Howe Field, then called “Anonymous Field” beginning in 1935. “Anonymous Field” was named Howe Field in the spring of 1936.
Open Access
Historic Resource Survey Form : Hamilton Hall Complex, East and West
(University of Oregon, 2006) Johnson, Susan; Lingo, Shawn; Mauro, Jeremy
Built in two phases, Hamilton Hall is less than fifty years old and is an example of Modernist design ideas on the UO campus. It echoes specific International style examples in its design and construction, especially in the piloti on the Agate St. façade which resemble the arrangement of the ground floor of the Seagrams Building by Mies van der Rohe and Phillip Johnson, perhaps the most famous example of the International style. Other decoration include use of contrasting construction panels to create a sort of decorative checkerboard effect, the brick and hollow tile lattice work on McClain, Boynton, Collier, and Robbins units of the complex and the pink aggregate panels and lattice work on Dunn and Cloran units. Hamilton Hall’s many semi-enclosed internal courtyards and common areas reflect Modernist ideas about reorganization of living space. Hamilton was named for Judge James W. Hamilton, member of the Board of Regents and president from 1913-1925. The building consists of ten separate rectangular, 4 story units: Boynton, Cloran, McClain, Tingle, Spiller, Robbins, Dunn, Collier, Burgess, and Watson. Each unit is named for a former faculty member of the UO. Hamilton Hall has good integrity. No discernible changes have been made to the fabric or design of the exterior. Interior changes have been limited to minor remodeling work and changes in use. Hamilton Hall may contribute to a campus historic district once it reaches 50 years of age as an example of Modernist architecture at the peak of its ascendancy and how it was applied to campus residential life. However, at this time Hamilton Hall is ranked as a non-contributing resource.
Open Access
Historic Resource Survey Form : Earl Hall Complex
(University of Oregon, 2006) Johnson, Susan; Mertz, Kathleen; Mendoca, Elise
The Earl Complex, also identified as Virgil D. Earl Hall, was completed in 1955 as an addition to Straub Hall. The design reflects the International style popular in the post-war period. This complex was named for Virgil D. Earl, University of Oregon alumnus and Athletic Director (1923-31) as well as Dean of Men (1931-45). Earl Hall is comprised of units named for former faculty: Edgar McClure (Chemistry), Davis Walter Morton (first dean of Administration), Frederick George Young (first dean of Graduate School), Orin Fletcher Stafford (Chemistry Department head), Henry Davidson Sheldon (founder of Oregon State Teachers Assoc., first dean of School of Education). It was built as a dormitory to house incoming freshmen men, including five separate units for 330 students. There have been minor renovations over the life of the building, including the restoration of the exterior tile wall portions in 1983 and 1985. This restoration included the removal and replacement “in-kind” of broken and cracked tiles. In 1985, the entire interior was painted. In 1991, the entire building was re-roofed. It is used for coed housing today. Dining and kitchen facilities are no longer situated in the complex. The former dining rooms have been converted into a lounge space in each of the 5 units. Laundry facilities have also been incorporated into the basements. Most recently (2005), Earl Hall has received universal accessibility alterations (ADA elevator, partial removal of covered walkway). This building is sited between the Emerald Axis, 15th Avenue Axis and Promenade and it is connected to Straub Hall. While this building has continuity of use, has good integrity, and is in good condition, it does not meet any of the criteria of significance for listing on the National Register. It has been ranked as a non-contributing resource due to its very low significance compared to other campus buildings.
Open Access
Historic Resource Survey Form : Fenton Hall
(University of Oregon, 2006) Johnson, Susan; Lingo, Shawn; Mauro, Jeremy
Designed by prominent Eugene architect Y. D. Hensill in 1906, Fenton Hall was built to house the University’s library collections, which at that time were dispersed among several buildings. Fenton is located in a prominent site on the Old Campus Quad along what became the primary campus pathway, the “Hello Walk.” The first floor was intended to house the library, a reading room, and related spaces while the second story was for classrooms and faculty offices. Within ten years of its construction, the library collection had increased dramatically (from less than 15,000 volumes to 53,000), necessitating the expansion of the stacks. Oregon’s first State Architect, W. C. Knighton, designed a five-story stacks addition for the west elevation in 1914. Around this time, the elevator and stair tower were also added and the front façade’s classical wooden columns and detailing were replaced with brick veneer. The original building and the first three floors of the western addition are built of brick bearing walls, while the upper two stories of the stacks addition are of steel frame with brick veneer. The first 3 stories of the stacks addition were completed in 1914 and the upper 2 in 1924. The 1937 completion of Knight Library left Fenton to be remodeled as the Law School. Alterations at that time were funded by the Works Progress Administration, designed by Lawrence and Holford, and included a new lecture room to hold 200 people, lowering the main entrance, thus altering the front façade once more, underpinning the foundation, and various cosmetic changes to windows and doors. Wayne Morse, who would later be Oregon’s eminent member of Congress, was the Dean of the Law School at the time and assisted with design decisions. Light posts were intended for the main entry but only the bases were ever installed. In 1944, steel beams were added to reinforce the first floor as the basement lecture room was completed. Also at that time, lower south windows were bricked in and the Civilian Pilots Corp moved into the building. The Law School moved to a new facility in 1970 and was replaced by the Math Department, Fenton’s current occupant. Additional interior remodeling has not drastically changed the integrity of the interior and much original woodwork survives as well as several original offices at the top of the stairs.
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 : Carson Hall
(University of Oregon, 2006) Johnson, Susan; Dietzler, Karl
Ellis Lawrence approved the preliminary design for Carson less than one week before his death in February 27, 1946. The original design called for two units (mirroring each other), but only one was constructed due to high construction costs. Bids opened on July 22, 1947, construction began in 1948 and finished in January of 1949. Due to high construction costs, the building was modified from its original design. Newspaper articles touted the to-be-built Women’s Dormitory design as among the most up-to-date on college campuses. Particular emphasis was placed on its fire-resistance due to concrete construction, and the modernity of its all-electric kitchen. D.L Halverson, Director of Residence Halls at the University of Wisconsin was the consultant in planning the first kitchen facilities, which included refrigerators for separate foodstuffs, and even for garbage - - a nod to increased sanitation standards. Additionally, the basement housed a butcher shop and bakery (for the entire campus), and dishwashing facilities, the latter equipped with a conveyor belt to accept dirty dishes from the first floor dining room. Construction was well underway as workers poured concrete for the second floor in November of 1948, as an article published in the Daily Emerald on the 30th noted, “The splendor of the building as revealed in the blueprints seems a far cry from the bare concrete forms which rise across from Emerald hall (sic); but through the rain, cold, and sludgy mud of a late Oregon fall, workers continue to hammer and pour, and the dream gradually nears reality.”
Open Access
Historic Resource Survey Form : Gerlinger Hall
(University of Oregon, 2006) Johnson, Susan; Mertz, Kathleen; Mendoca, Elise
The Women’s Memorial Hall was build largely as a tribute to the accomplishments of women. Built in 1919 and designed by Ellis Lawrence, the building was to house the Department of Physical Training for Women, the Department of Household Arts, the Infirmary and all the women’s organizations call for special quarters. In addition it was to provide a center for the women’s activities on campus. Irene H. Gerlinger, the first woman on the University of Oregon’s Board of Regents and an ardent fundraiser and supporter for the University began a long campaign for the women’s building in 1915. In 1921, the Women’s Memorial Hall was dedicated and officially opened for use and in 1929 was renamed Gerlinger Hall. Mrs. Gerlinger was deeply involved in the design and decoration of the building. Gerlinger Hall is part of the Women’s Memorial Quadrangle, an open area planned in lawn, shaded by a mixture of shrubs and trees and traversed by a curvilinear walkway, designed by Ellis Lawrence, the first Dean of the School of Architecture and Allied Arts. The ensemble is considered a fine and rare example of a collegiate building group in the Georgian style. Gerlinger Hall still retains its historic Georgian details. Immediately south of the building is the Women’s Physical Education Field, historically used in conjunction with the women’s gymnasium in Gerlinger. This building is sited to the south of the Pioneer Axis and Knight Library Axis, north of the Gerlinger Field Green and west of the Gerlinger Entrance Green, all being investigated as part of the Getty Foundation Cultural Landscape Preservation Plan.
Open Access
Cover Sheet for Grouped Resources : Education Complex
(University of Oregon, 2006) Johnson, Susan; Lingo, Shawn; Mauro, Jeremy
Open Access
Historic Resource Survey Form : Education Annex
(University of Oregon, 2006) Johnson, Susan; Dietzler, Karl
Known commonly as a “shack” on campus, this small building was designed by Ellis Lawrence for the purpose of soliciting donations for his 1923 campus plan. Originally situated behind what is now Johnson Hall, it housed the Alumni Holding Company, the company formed and charged with raising the funds. It is likely that the original site commanded the view of campus buildings being constructed, and thus, would be more effective at raising funds. Of note, the Education Annex was designed to be temporary - - and it is significant that it is the only remaining “shack”’ remaining on campus, representative of this period in campus history. Unfortunately, it has been moved twice - - once between 1960-1965, from its original location to a location behind the Education building. In 1979, it was moved again to its current location. Because of this, the original site integrity is lost. Based upon as-built data gathered from the Lawrence Building Survey, wall and frame construction is nailed wood frame, windows are multi-pane wooden double hung sash, with exterior and roof clad in wood shingles. The interior retains the bead-board walls and ceilings, reportedly used by Lawrence in other buildings, save for the alterations that have been made in recent years (see alteration description under “Architectural History” above). Additional alterations noted in the Lawrence Survey are the possibility of an additional window on the rear façade, miscellaneous minor interior wall alterations, and a new raised porch with stairs, ramp and railings.
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 : Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art
(University of Oregon, 2006) Johnson, Susan; Mauro, Jeremy; Lingo, Shawn
The University of Oregon’s Museum of Art was constructed in 1930 for the purpose of housing Gertrude Warner’s collection of Asian art and antiquities as well as the Condon fossil collection (now stored in the Museum of Natural History). Beginning in 1925, funds for the construction were raised by public subscription. Work was delayed and the design, originally a 3-winged plan, was changed due to the Great Crash of 1929. The building has been surrounded by controversy ever since its construction. Gertrude Warner initially refused to allow her collection to be housed in the new museum, citing security concerns. Other controversies have included cost over-runs, design disagreements (the original Lawrence plan was for 3 wings instead of 1), and the effects and benefits of the 2004 rehab and expansion work. The Museum of Art was the work of Ellis Lawrence. Stylistically it is difficult to classify due to the various opinions and unique characteristics. Marion Dean Ross, the University of Oregon’s eminent architectural historian, noted Romanesque, Gothic, Islamic, Eclectic, and Modernistic influences. This survey follows the assessment given in the Lawrence Survey of 1989 with the classification of “Exotic.” Lawrence’s use of materials and modern mechanical systems was commented on favorably by Frank Lloyd Wright during that great architect’s visit to Eugene.
Open Access
Historic Resource Survey Form : Walton Hall Complex
(University of Oregon, 2006) Johnson, Susan; Steverson, Erica; Helwick, Sarah
Walton 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.
Open Access
Historic Resource Survey Form : Deady Hall
(University of Oregon, 2006) Johnson, Susan; Welch, Dustin; Blaser, Andrea
In Oregon during the 1850’s all higher education was centered in district schools that had religious affiliations. In 1872 citizens of Eugene raised $50,000 and formed the Union University Association. This group successfully lobbied in the State Legislature for the establishment of a state university in Eugene. On December 26th 1872 the association accepted a donation of 10 acres of land from J.W.D. Henderson thereby sighting the location of the University. “The “State University Building” as it was referred to in the beginning was to be larger and grander than any other in Eugene. As the first building on the University campus, Deady was designed by one of Oregon’s first two architects, William W. Piper. Piper had no formal professional training, and Deady would be his last project. He never collected all his fees from the University, and sadly, financial difficulties forced Piper to sell his firm and he ended his life shortly after (jumping from a train in Wyoming). Despite Piper’s lack of formal training this Second Empire style building displays skillful massing that emphasizes Deady’s vertical scale. Keystones and windowsills are made of cast iron. Originally the building’s brickwork was unpainted until 1891, when a layer of gray sanded paint was applied. The original wood floors were two feet thick and filled with earth to deaden sound and provide a source of radiant heat after the wood stoves cooled down. At the basement level Deady’s brick walls are nearly 3 feet thick to carry this heavy structural load. Rough-hewn timbers (3” by 10”) are spaced one foot apart throughout the walls and 16-inch square beams are capable of supporting a considerable amount of weight. On October 16, 1876 the University opened with a partially completed building. In 1877 classrooms were completed on the second floor and an assembly hall capable of seating 600 persons was located on the third floor. In 1885 a cornerstone ceremony took place and a small time capsule was placed under the stone in the northeast corner of the building. Federal Judge Deady was one person in particular who supported the creation of a state funded university system, and Deady Hall was named after him in 1893. But today, Deady’s exterior is all that remains of the original building. The eight chimneys are a remnant of the wood stoves that used to heat the building, and Deady Hall has housed practically every activity of the University at one time or another, including a School of Mines, a gym, a YMCA and an astronomical observatory in one tower. As early as 1914 because of the limited number of University buildings and a growing student population the interior was completely remodeled by William C. Knighton.
Open Access
Historic Resource Survey Form : Lawrence Hall
(University of Oregon, 2006) Johnson, Susan; Dietzler, Karl; Granke, Heidi
The building named for the founder of UO’s architecture program and prominent Oregon architect is a complicated layering of additions and connections among buildings, which began before his time and continued well after. Ellis Lawrence's influences on the existing 1901 Mechanical Hall by Edgar Lazarus and the 1914 Architecture Building by Knighton include many minor alterations and major changes at three different times (1923, 1924, and 1940-41). Lawrence's School of Architecture and Allied Arts was founded in 1914 and quickly rose to national prominence. His low-budget ad hoc assemblage of buildings and additions housed his school until major additions were added in 1957 and 1970. The amalgamation shows the relatively small older buildings (Mechanical Hall, Architecture Building, and Power Plant) juxtaposed with three and four story modern additions (1957, 1971, and 1991 portions). Overall, there is quite a bit of history that can be traced to the complex’s growth and changing appearance with the growth of the AAA School under Ellis Lawrence as well as the changing tastes in style over the last 100 years. The oldest portion of Lawrence, 1901 Mechanical Hall portion, was designed by Edgar Lazarus (the builder is unknown). Today it comprises the northwest portion of the Lawrence Hall complex. According to Ed Teague’s architecture research guide, Lazarus is best known for the Vista House, Crown Point (1916). He also designed two buildings at OSU. In 1914, W.C. Knighton, Oregon’s first State Architect, built a parallel building, the Architecture Building, east of Mechanical Hall facing what was then University Street (the builder is unknown). The Architecture Building was designed to resemble Mechanical Hall and indeed they appear similar to this day. An old photo of Mechanical Hall shows the cupola that was later removed by Lawrence and dark colored siding – it cannot be determined whether the siding was brick or wood. W. C. Knighton also connected the two former buildings with an addition, originally one story. In 1923 Ellis Lawrence added a second story to the connector as part of his large Arts Wing project, made possible after the heating plant moved out to its new building. This added a second-floor main drafting room and library on the courtyard. Lawrence removed the Mechanical Hall’s cupola and applied stucco to the entire ensemble to give a uniform, Mediterranean-style appearance (Teague, 2004). Other 1923-24, courtyard additions included a bay window and ambulatory. In 1940- 41 Lawrence added two wings to the north, which extended the west facade and added studio space (the builder is unknown). They were funded by WPA (WPA # 1335).
Open Access
Historic Resource Survey Form : Klamath Hall
(University of Oregon, 2006) Johnson, Susan; Flathman, Jennifer; Pochert, Erin
The science departments at the University of Oregon continued to grow in enrollment and specialization during the late 1950s and early 1960s. By the mid 1960s, the facilities in Science I (Pacific Hall) and its East Addition(Onyx Bridge) were cramped and outdated. Emerging fields such as Molecular Biology needed space and specialized equipment. The University planned to augment the science facilities with new buildings. In addition to funding from the State of Oregon, much of the sponsorship for individual laboratories came from grants given by the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health. The selection of Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill (SOM) to conduct the master planning for the science complex and design for Science II is significant in that this was the first firm from outside of the Northwest to design a campus building. This large, international firm is known for technically sophisticated buildings that emphasize utility. The master plan for the science complex called for incremental building with separate structures linked by corridors and courtyards to provide unity. The functional requirements of the departments housed within provide the organizational scheme for each individual building. The design for Klamath Hall (Science II) utilizes modern design principles to respond to the ever-changing functional needs. In keeping with Modernist principles, the only ornament is the expression of the structural frame. Not merely an aesthetic choice, the frame and corresponding lack of internal columns provides for open laboratory spaces, easy internal partitioning, and sun control. The use of fixed windows and reliance on mechanical ventilation also reflect the importance of technology in modern design. The desire to maximize internal flexibility drove the decisions for everything from mechanical systems to laboratory finishes. The Science Library’s central location is a hub linking the various departments together. The Library’s position in the basement maximizes the coverage on the site with the light well providing daylight and controlled access to the outdoors from within the facility. The Library is emblematic of the connection between utility and technology found throughout Klamath Hall and modern design.
Open Access
Historic Resource Survey Form : Condon Hall
(University of Oregon, 2006) Johnson, Susan; Helwick, Sarah; Steverson, Erica
Built 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.
Open Access
Historic Resource Survey Form : Computing Center
(University of Oregon, 2006) Johnson, Susan; Welch, Dustin; Blaser, Andrea
The Computing Center, constructed in 1966 and opened in 1967, was designed in the Modern style by architects Morin and Longwood. It has a rectangular building plan, 2 stories, and a concrete foundation. The primary exterior wall material is brick, with stucco as the secondary material. The roof is flat with vinyl roofing material, and the building has aluminum framed pane windows. Vertical brick coursing and the simplistic, horizontal box massing contradicted by a sense of verticality inferred by the narrow, tall windows are the only decorative features. The surrounding landscape consists of shrub beds. Ever since it was erected, the Computing Center has functioned as a resource center for all campus computer needs, and may prove to be significant for its relationship to the roots of the computer age on campus. The purpose of the center is to both provide educational facilities and to provide scientific computations for research projects. University faculty and students had to use facilities in other parts of Oregon as well as California for their computing needs prior to its construction. The Computing Center was supported partially by a $30,000 grant from the National Science Foundation.1 It was originally a single story structure but it is now rumored to have been designed to support a second story. This alleged intention was fully realized in 1970 when a second-story addition was done by the original architects, creating the building that is seen today. The only other changes to the building are the addition of skylights, replacement of ceiling tiles, and enlargement of bathrooms by architects Robertson and Sherwood in 2001. In addition, the southern entry plaza was redesigned when the Lillis Business Center was constructed in 2004. While the building has much of its integrity intact and is in excellent condition, it is not exemplar in style. When it reaches 50 years of age, it will need to be reevaluated for significance to the campus before a judgment can be made regarding its eligibility for the National Register. For now, it is ranked as a non-contributing resource due to its very low significance compared to other campus buildings.
Open Access
Cover Sheet for Grouped Resources : Cascade Annex
(University of Oregon, 2006) Johnson, Susan; Mertz, Kathleen; Mendoca, Elise
Open Access
Historic Resource Survey Form : Agate Hall
(University of Oregon, 2006) Johnson, Susan; Welch, Dustin; Blaser, Andrea
Agate Hall was designed in the California Mission style by architect F. Mason White and was constructed in 1924. It has a rectangular plan and 2 stories with a concrete foundation. The exterior wall surface is stucco, and it has a hipped roof with composite shingles, although the original building had metal roof tiles. The building has primarily aluminum louvered windows, and has an entry block with decoration in the form of engaged columns, arched windows, and a parapet. Agate Hall was originally Theodore Roosevelt Junior High School and then became Condon Elementary School in 1950. Condon Elementary was closed by the Eugene School District in 1983 due to low enrollment. The university acquired the property in 1984 and named it Agate Hall. The south entry is marked for “Boys” and the north for “Girls”. Originally matching “play sheds,” one for girls and one for boys, were located along the east façade and separated by the auditorium and boiler room. At some point after 1925 the boys play shed was removed and a sawdust storage area was built next to the boiler room. The interior has a relatively intact auditorium with a stage, cove ceilings, six skylights and a wrap around balcony. The auditorium is used for community and University functions. The tall furnace chimney has been decommissioned and has become locally famous due to a large population of Vaux’s Swifts that roost inside the stack during their annual summer migration. It has been used for numerous offices over the years, and now houses the Alumni Association, the UO Foundation, and the Oregon Bach Festival.