Location: 1525 University St., Eugene, Oregon

Date: 1936; 1954; 1958; 1999

Architect: Lawrence, Holford, and Allyn

DESCRIPTION

Construction ended in December 1936 on the new Physical Education building, a PWA project. At the entrance are two cast stone urns by PWA artist Walter Pritchard. The P. E. Building was later joined to the enclosed Leighton Pool and nearby McArthur Court. In 1970 the building partially burned, and was rebuilt. In 1975, the P. E. Building was named after Arthur A. Esslinger. In the 1990s, Esslinger Hall underwent renovation and expansion as the new Student Recreation and Fitness Center developed.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Consult the Guide to Architectural Materials in Special Collections for holdings on Ellis F. Lawrence.

"Esslinger Hall, Historic Resource Survey Form." University of Oregon Campus Planning and Real Estate, 2006.

Ellis Lawrence Building Survey. Compiled by the Historic Preservation Program, School of Architecture and Allied Arts, University of Oregon ; project directors, Michael Shellenbarger, Kimberly Lakin. [Salem, Or.] : State Historic Preservation Office, [1989].

1930s

"Physical education building will have to natatorium. Insufficient funds given for new pool, states Dean Bovard." Daily Emerald, 10/04/1935, 1

"Moving of ROTC barracks starts. Construction on men's gym starts next month," Daily Emerald, 01/02/1936, 1

"Men's classes in gym end Wednesday, Work of reconstruction starts; lectures will be continued," Daily Emerald, 03/03/1936, 1

"New men's gym opening delayed, Bovard expects completion during holidays," Daily Emerald, 11/13/1936, 1

"Gym will open Jan.1; board must give okay," $350,000 plant goes in service winter term," Daily Emerald, 12/02/1936, 1

"New gym open house scheduled, Thursday and Friday evening, January 7 and 8," Daily Emerald, 12/05/1936, 3

"State board's gym inspection to be Saturday, Final construction cost $356,000," Daily Emerald, 12/11/1936, 4

"Oregon's new gym thrown open for student inspection between 7:30, 10:30 tonight," Daily Emerald, 01/04/1937, 1

"New men's gym building stimulates interest in physical education courses, says Bovard," Daily Emerald, 01/12/1937, 1

"New men's gym filled to capacity, 1350 use plant winter term," Daily Emerald, 04/01/1937, 1

"New physical education plant highly praised," Daily Emerald, 04/03/1937, 4

"Men's PE building completes first year, Better department fetes anniversary of new gym plant," Daily Emerald, 01/15/1938, 3

1950s

"Men's showers receive $15,000 remodeling job," Daily Emerald, 09/23/1952, 7

1960s

"Physical Education Project bids open," Daily Emerald, 11/10/1967, 3

1970s

"Men's PE suffers extensive damages," Daily Emerald, 02/16/1970, 1 "PE fire's cause still not found, work continues", Daily Emerald, 02/20/1970, 5

"PE fire cause still undermined," Daily Emerald, 02/24/1970, 2

"It's official: arson cause of PE fire," Daily Emerald, 03/02/1970, 1

"Arson investigation continues in fire probe," Daily Emerald, 03/05/1970, 2

"Reconstruction to begin on men's PE building," Daily Emerald, 07/02/1970, 10

"Repairs to PE building begin," Daily Emerald, 01/06/1971, 9

"$310,000 OK'd for remodeling men's PE," Daily Emerald, 01/11/1971, 1

"Officials investigate cause of PE fire," Daily Emerald, 02/18/1973, 1

"Cause of fire still under investigation," Daily Emerald, 02/19/1973, 1

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

"Remodeling will enlarge locker rooms," Daily Emerald, 10/01/1975, 1

"Remodeling marks a step toward equality: locker room convenience to result," Daily Emerald, 12/04/1975, 3