Annual Meeting
2004 Annual Meeting Report
The fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the Marion Dean Ross/Pacific Northwest Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians was held in Eugene, Oregon from October 8-10, 2004.
The proceedings began with a viewing of special exhibits at the University of Oregon Knight Library including a lobby exhibit entitled Building Oregon: Design and Documentation (The University Campus since 1873). Delegates were welcomed by Edward H. Teague, Head, Architecture and Allied and Arts Library and Leland M. Roth, Marion Dean Ross Professor of Architectural History. The opening reception and dinner was held at the University of Oregon Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art. Built in 1929-30 by private donations to house the Murray Warner Collection of Oriental Art, this distinctive building has a distinctive Byzantine flavour. Terra cotta was planned for the ornamental portions of the facade but this was revised to cast stone - a pre cast concrete product marketed as a cheap alternative to carved stone - presumably to save costs.
Prince Lucien Campbell Memorial Courtyard.
One attraction of the building is the Prince Lucien Campbell Memorial Courtyard, described as a "narrow, cloister-like space with reflecting pool" with "Bedford Indiana Limestone columns with capitals depicting the small bird and animal life of Oregon. " Two wings designed to flank the inner court were not built until a recent construction project which has added considerably to the capacity of the art museum to showcase works from its extensive collection. Considerable care has been taken to match the new brickwork and ornament to the original, resulting in a sympathetic addition that blends the best of old and new. All art objects have been stored but will be installed in their new locations before long and the eagerly-awaited reopening will take place.
Delegates were welcomed to the conference by Chapter Vice President Linda Smeins. Chapter Historian Elisabeth Walton Potter, a former student of Marion Dean Ross, discussed the preparation of the Chapter History. This comprehensive volume, which was distributed free to all attendees, outlines not only the history of the formation of the chapter and its activities but also documents all conferences and meetings along with a complete listing of papers presented during academic sessions. Carefully chosen photographs enhance the written text and make this valuable document "easy on the eyes." Ms. Potter presented a copy of the chapter history to James Fox, Curator, Division of Special collections and Archives, University of Oregon Library for inclusion in the chapter archives. Professor Russell J. Donnelly of the University of Oregon Department of Physics presented remarks in remembrance of his late wife, the former national SAH president Marian Card Donnelly. Following dinner, Wallace Kay Huntington, a colleague of Marion Dean Ross, presented a very personal retrospective on the life of his friend using slides from Ross' extensive collection. All delegates left the evening with a deeper understanding of the man for whom our chapter is named.
Martin Segger, Chapter President, welcomed delegates to the morning paper session, while Joby Patterson introduced the presenters and their works. The diversity of the presentations and the depth of research made the sessions very entertaining.
Papers were:
James Tice, Associate Professor of Architecture, University of Oregon
Frank Lloyd Wright and the Vicissitudes of "Composition"
Diana Painter, Painter Preservation and Planning, Petaluma, California
The Pattern Book Houses of Spokane's West Central Neighborhood
Rebecca Nielsen, M.S. Historic Preservation, University of Oregon
A Cultural Resource Survey of Finnish Immigrant Architecture in the Lower Columbia Region
Shannon Bell, M.S. Candidate, Historic Preservation, University of Oregon
The History and Preservation of Vertical Plank and Box-constructed Buildings in the Pacific Northwest
Gilbert Eade, Chapter Member, Bend, Oregon
But is it Architecture?
Martin Segger, Director, Maltwood Museum, University of Victoria
The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Syllabus Diploma Program
Following a box lunch, members enjoyed a tour of the museum where they learned not only the history of the building, but also its future plans. The Annual General Meeting was the venue for the release of the chapters video that documented the Eade House in Seattle, designed by Royal McClure. This 15-minute video is available on both VHS and DVD and will be distributed to schools of architecture and art history in the region. Interested parties may purchase a copy by contacting the chapter through the newly-redesigned website sahmdr.org.
Christine Thompson of the University of Oregon Planning Office, led a tour of the University of Oregon's architecture and landscapes. She began with an overview of the development of the campus; a presentation which put our later viewing of the buildings in context. The first two buildings on the campus, Deady Hall (1876) and Villard Hall (1885), were designed by Oregon's first two professional architects, William W. Piper and Warren H. Williams, respectively. Built in the Second Empire Baroque style, both are of brick construction. Deady was originally red brick but was coated with sand paint in 1891, presumably to match the exterior of Villard that had been heavily stuccoed from its inception.
Lillis Business Center (2000).
An example of the campus' commitment to sustainability is the Lillis Business Center (2000) that meets the equivalence of LEED standards. Among the innovative measures are: natural cooling and ventilation through increased thermal mass and a central glazed atrium that will act as a chimney, occupancy sensors on lights and certain outlets, a demo green roof, photo voltaic cells with a solar generating capacity of about 6% of the building's energy use, and a comprehensive demolition waste recycling program.
Condon Hall (1923).
Chapman Hall (1939).
Of interest are two building which face each other - Condon Hall (1923) and Chapman Hall (1939). Although they appear to be identical, they are technologically different. Condon has traditional loadbearing exterior walls of brick and a wood structure within; Chapman has a twentieth century internal structure of concrete with concrete exterior walls that are only veneered with brick. Subtle differences in the brickwork including the header course on Condon, are clues to the later construction date.
The East Wing of Science building (1960) is noted for its facade of steel diagonals that form a giant truss designed to carry the building over Onyx Street. However, vibrations from the street disrupted sensitive scientific experiments, and the street was closed. The trusses were covered with asbestos fireproofing; its removal in 1984 was the largest operation of its kind in the country.
Willamette Atrium.
Further evidence of the sustainability of the campus is demonstrated in the Willamette Atrium. Rather than demolishing the old box-like science buildings, the architects reused them, linking them with new construction to create one of the most useful areas on campus. The exterior face of one of the original buildings is evident inside this efficient atrium that is neither air conditioned nor heated. Innovative designs for light standards and ceiling art reflect the sciences while providing practical vehicles for building services.
The evening banquet was held at the Gerlinger Hall Alumni Lounge. Womens Memorial Hall was completed in 1921 and was renamed Gerlinger Hall in 1929 after the woman on the Board of Regents who had raised the funds for construction. Designed in the Georgian Colonial style in brick with cast stone and painted wood trim, the building presents an imposing silhouette on the skyline. Inside, the Alumni Hall on the second floor contains paneled wainscoting of Oregon Douglas Fir, ornamental plaster work, antiques purchased by Mrs. Gerlinger, and draperies which duplicate the originals made in England on William Morris looms. Grant Hildebrand, Emeritus Professor, University of Washington, gave the keynote address entitled The Seattle Public Library and the MDRC. He used the newly constructed library to illustrate the world-class work that is being designed for the Pacific Northwest. He emphasized that this region is no longer on the outskirts of the rest of the country; it is often at the forefront of new design and scholarship. Professor Hildebrand skillfully traced the history of architecture in the region and illustrated how it paralled the history of the chapter. Delegates left the presentation feeling a sense of pride in the accomplishments of both the region and the chapter.
Sunday morning featured a walking tour of Eugenes historic, modern and contemporary buildings and spaces hosted by Eugenes Historic Review Board and Ken Guzowski, City of Eugene Historic Preservation Planner.
Posted October 19, 2004