Historic Resource Survey Form : Cascade Annex West 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 in 1925 to house the press operations on campus. It is a simple rectangular poured
concrete building with a rough stucco finish and multi-pane metal windows. Per the original drawings, it was intended to have a
sawtooth roof with north facing windows but due to cost, it was redesigned as flat with skylights. A small addition in 1926 was the
workroom for San Francisco printer John Henry Nash, although the architectural details of this lack documentary evidence. Special
equipment was moved into the building for the printing of one book a year under the supervision of Mr. Nash. One of the first books
printed was the biography of recently deceased University President Prince Lucien Campbell. The Daily Emerald was printed there as
well. The original interior configuration consisted of two large rooms (press room and bindery) with a couple of offices along the west
wall. The interior was modified multiple times to accommodate changing uses over the life of the building so that by 1987, the floor
plans show all smaller offices and laboratories rather than a large interior space. In 1946 there was a fire and the roof was
reconstructed. In this same year, Cascade Annex East was constructed adjacent to it on the east. 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. In 1950, a window of the west facade was converted to an entry door. In 1961, the Onyx Bridge was constructed on top
of the building. In 1963, a freezer room and air-conditioned animal room was constructed within the south end of the building to
accommodate the science laboratories. The southern 60% of the building was demolished in 1987 to clear the site for Cascade Hall.
In 2001, there was extensive remodeling to house the science stores, which included interior demolition of the north offices, infill of the
west door and conversion of the central north window into a door with a decorative I-beam awning. Currently, the building sits dwarfed
under the Onyx Bridge, connected to Cascade Annex East at the southeastern corner and surrounded by an asphalt parking lot,
loading ramp and alley on the north, east and west facades, respectively.
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.
Description
5 pages
Keywords
cultural resources survey, history, architecture