Location: 955 E. 13th Ave., Eugene, Oregon

Date: 1952

Architect: Wick & Hilgers.

DESCRIPTION

Commonwealth Hall was completed in September 1952. It bridged two historic structures: Oregon Hall (formerly named Education, then Gilbert West, and now Peterson Hall) and Commerce Hall (now Anstett Hall, formerly Gilbert Hall). Its design garnered some controversy since it altered the historic campus plan which delineated an unobstructed north-south axis. Praised upon its opening as 'built to last a century', Commonwealth was demolished in 2003 to make way for the Lillis Business Complex. Commonwealth Hall's green-tinted windows and sleek lines were reminiscent of Pietro Belluschi's landmark Equitable Building (Portland) built a few years earlier.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1950s

"Buildings Authorized." Old Oregon 32 no.3 (Feb. 1951): 10. ill. drawing.

Frye, William. "A New Building to Serve the Commonwealth." Old Oregon (Feb.-Mar. 1953): 2-5.

"Board okays BA building, stadium," Daily Emerald, 01/04/1951, 1

"BA building passes Salem lower house," Daily Emerald, 05/02/1951, 1

"Correction,"$700,000 project", Daily Emerald, 05/04/1951, 6

"Building addition gets senate OK," Daily Emerald, 05/04/1951, 5

"Commonwealth Hall moving day slated Monday, (other campus improvements)", Daily Emerald, 06/30/1952, 1, il.

"Commonwealth Hall moving day slated Monday," Daily Emerald, 07/30/1952, 1, il.

"Signs, markers due in Commonwealth," Daily Emerald, 09/23/1952, 1

"Commonwealth completed, a step in the master plan," Daily Emerald, 09/26/1952, 1

"Committee to inspect Commonwealth," Daily Emerald, 10/24/1952, 3

"Shrubs replaced near Oregon Hall," Daily Emerald, 11/20/1952, 3

"Remodelling program, new J school need approval of Oregon legislature," Daily Emerald, 04/16/1955, 1

"Necessity, not extravagance", editorial", Daily Emerald, 04/17/1955, 2

"Legislature sleeps on proposals," Daily Emerald, 04/18/1955, 1

"BA building gets assent," Daily Emerald, 04/26/1955, 1

1960s

"Jones authorizes new study space," Daily Emerald, 05/09/1961, 7

"They're open, editorial, classrooms for study", Daily Emerald, 05/17/1961, 2

"Chairs installed in Commonwealth," Daily Emerald, 01/08/1963, 7

1970s

"Two buildings get new names, "Commonwealth becomes Gilbert Hall, Physical Education becomes Esslinger Hall", Daily Emerald, 05/22/1975, 2