Historic Resource Survey Form : Fenton Hall
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Date
2006
Authors
Johnson, Susan
Lingo, Shawn
Mauro, Jeremy
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
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.
Description
7 pages
Keywords
cultural resources survey, architecture, history