Art Building (Willamette University)
Encyclopedia
The Art Building is an academic hall at Willamette University
in Salem, Oregon
, United States. Built in 1905 for the Willamette University College of Medicine
, it is the third oldest building on campus after Waller Hall
and Gatke Hall
. The Beaux-Arts style red-brick building stands three-stories tall and contains 14000 square feet (1,300.6 m²) of space.
’s medical school (now Oregon Health & Science University
) in Portland in 1913 and vacated the building. That year the law school
moved into the now Science Hall, which was the first regular home to the school on campus. Willamette’s high school department, Willamette Academy, was also located in the building from 1913 until 1920. The science department also occupied the building at this time.
In 1938, the law school moved to Gatke Hall (built in 1903 and moved to campus in 1938), and in 1941 the science department moved to neighboring Collins Hall. In 1941, the then College of Music moved into the building, remaining until 1976. That year the building finished renovations begun the previous year after the structure had declined to the point where the top floor was declared unsafe by the fire marshal
. The remodel prepared the building for use by the art department, who moved in in 1976 with the building renamed as the Art Building. After the art department relocated to the hall, a gallery for the school’s art collection developed on the top floor and was named the Hallie Brown Ford Gallery. The collections were moved in 1998 to the new Hallie Ford Museum of Art
located one block to the west.
In 2002, a wing was added and the existing structure was extensively remodeled and upgraded in a $3.5 million project. The three-story and 7000 square feet (650.3 m²) wing was added to the east with covered walkways connecting it to the existing structure on each of the three floors. Renovations on the original building included seismic retrofitting, adding bathrooms, and reconfiguration of the basement and the top floor. Soderstrom Architects’ Jon Wiener designed the new brick-faced wing, while Walsh Construction served as general contractor.
. The hall has a concrete foundation faced with bricks with the roof made of composite shingles. The new wing includes a gallery for the display of student art, a 35 seat classroom, offices, painting and printmaking studios, and storage areas. Both the art history and art department occupy the buildings.
Willamette University
Willamette University is an American private institution of higher learning located in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest university in the Western United States. Willamette is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges, and is made up of an undergraduate College of Liberal Arts and...
in Salem, Oregon
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
, United States. Built in 1905 for the Willamette University College of Medicine
Willamette University College of Medicine
Willamette University College of Medicine is a former school of medicine that was part of Willamette University. Founded in 1867 as the first medical school in Oregon, the school relocated between Portland and the main university campus in Salem several times. Eventually the school was merged with...
, it is the third oldest building on campus after Waller Hall
Waller Hall
Waller Hall is the oldest building on the campus of Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, United States. Built in 1867 as University Hall, the five-story, red-brick structure was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975...
and Gatke Hall
Gatke Hall
Gatke Hall is the second-oldest building at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, United States. A two-story structure, it was originally built in downtown Salem in 1903 across the street from the Marion County Courthouse and served as a post office...
. The Beaux-Arts style red-brick building stands three-stories tall and contains 14000 square feet (1,300.6 m²) of space.
History
In 1905, Willamette University opened the Medical Building as the first permanent home for the College of Medicine. The medical school, the first in the Northwest, merged with the University of OregonUniversity of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
’s medical school (now Oregon Health & Science University
Oregon Health & Science University
Oregon Health & Science University is a public university in Oregon with a main campus, including two hospitals, in Portland and a smaller campus in Hillsboro...
) in Portland in 1913 and vacated the building. That year the law school
Willamette University College of Law
Willamette University College of Law is a private law school located in Salem, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1842, Willamette University is the oldest university in the Western United States...
moved into the now Science Hall, which was the first regular home to the school on campus. Willamette’s high school department, Willamette Academy, was also located in the building from 1913 until 1920. The science department also occupied the building at this time.
In 1938, the law school moved to Gatke Hall (built in 1903 and moved to campus in 1938), and in 1941 the science department moved to neighboring Collins Hall. In 1941, the then College of Music moved into the building, remaining until 1976. That year the building finished renovations begun the previous year after the structure had declined to the point where the top floor was declared unsafe by the fire marshal
Fire Marshal
A fire marshal, in the United States and Canada, is often a member of a fire department but may be part of a building department or a separate department altogether. Fire marshals' duties vary but usually include fire code enforcement and/or investigating fires for origin and cause...
. The remodel prepared the building for use by the art department, who moved in in 1976 with the building renamed as the Art Building. After the art department relocated to the hall, a gallery for the school’s art collection developed on the top floor and was named the Hallie Brown Ford Gallery. The collections were moved in 1998 to the new Hallie Ford Museum of Art
Hallie Ford Museum of Art
The Hallie Ford Museum of Art is the museum of Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, United States. It is the third largest art museum in Oregon. Opened in 1998, the facility is across the street from the Oregon State Capital in downtown Salem, on the western edge of the school campus...
located one block to the west.
In 2002, a wing was added and the existing structure was extensively remodeled and upgraded in a $3.5 million project. The three-story and 7000 square feet (650.3 m²) wing was added to the east with covered walkways connecting it to the existing structure on each of the three floors. Renovations on the original building included seismic retrofitting, adding bathrooms, and reconfiguration of the basement and the top floor. Soderstrom Architects’ Jon Wiener designed the new brick-faced wing, while Walsh Construction served as general contractor.
Details
The original building contains 14000 square feet (1,300.6 m²) spread over three stories and a full basement. It is the oldest building at Willamette after Gatke and Waller halls, though Gatke was built elsewhere and moved to campus in 1938. Originally featuring wood floors, the now carpeted hall includes a ceramics studio in the basement attached to an outdoor kiln, teaching studios, galleries, offices, and work rooms. The Beaux Arts style brick building is at the corner of State and Winter streets on the north end of the campus across from the Oregon Civic Justice CenterOregon Civic Justice Center
The Oregon Civic Justice Center is a three-story former library building on the campus of Willamette University in downtown Salem, Oregon, United States. Built in 1912 as a Carnegie library for the city of Salem, the building now houses several programs of Willamette University College of Law...
. The hall has a concrete foundation faced with bricks with the roof made of composite shingles. The new wing includes a gallery for the display of student art, a 35 seat classroom, offices, painting and printmaking studios, and storage areas. Both the art history and art department occupy the buildings.