Historic Resource Survey Form : Agate Hall
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Date
2006
Authors
Johnson, Susan
Welch, Dustin
Blaser, Andrea
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
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.
Description
4 pages
Keywords
architecture, history, cultural resources survey