Historic Resource Survey Form : Cascade East Annex Wing
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Date
2006
Authors
Johnson, Susan
Mertz, Kathleen
Mendoca, Elise
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
This building was designed by Ellis Lawrence and was one of the last of his buildings to be built in his lifetime. It cost the University of
Oregon approximately $50,000 by the time it was completed in May 1946. It closely resembles the adjacent Cascade Annex West. At
the time of construction, its dimensions and massing mirrored Cascade Annex West, although a few feet longer extending to the south.
Drawings from 1952 show this length differentiation but later drawings show them the same length. Documentation of the exact date of
this change is inconclusive. It is a simple rectangular poured concrete building with a rough stucco finish and multi-pane metal
windows. It is devoid of any detailing except two parallel grooves in the concrete that form a cornice line. It is utilitarian in design, built
to house the paint, electrical, mechanical and carpentry shops, which, at the time, had been housed in various temporary structures on
campus. The original floor plans show the building subdivided into four sections for theses shops with only three interior east-west
walls. A variety of interior modifications were made when the Museum of Natural History and the Herbarium, moved into this building in
1955, then called the Anthropology-Museum building. By 1987, the interior space had been heavily subdivided into smaller offices. In
1961, the Onyx Bridge was built on top of it. The Museum of Natural History was housed in the central and southern half of it until
1987, when this portion was razed to clear the site for the construction of Cascade. Currently, this building sits dwarfed by the Onyx
Bridge and connected to Cascade Annex West on the southwestern corner. There is an asphalt parking lot along the north side, a
loading dock on the west side, minimal landscaping of trees and grass on the east side, a large bicycle cage on the southeastern
corner and a concrete sidewalk along the south side. It is sited adjacent to the Science Courtyard on the southeast corner.
This building lacks integrity for listing on the National Register because Onyx Bridge was built on top of the annex, 60% was razed, and
interior modifications over time have greatly diminished the existing historic fabric. It has been ranked as a non-contributing resource
for its very low significance to the campus and poor integrity.
NATIONAL
Description
5 pages
Keywords
cultural resources survey, architecture, history