Eugene City Hall

Eugene City Hall, also known as the Civic Center, was the city hall of Eugene, Oregon, United States, the second-largest city in Oregon, from 1964 to 2012. It was a mid-century modern, single-story structure with a central plaza and underground parking. It was opened in 1964, closed in 2012,[1] and demolished in 2014–15, with plans for its replacement by a new city hall.

Eugene City Hall
City Hall before sunset
Alternative namesCivic Center
General information
TypeMunicipal
Architectural styleModernism
Address777 Pearl Street
Town or cityEugene, Oregon
CountryUnited States
Coordinates44.051505°N 123.088933°W / 44.051505; -123.088933
Construction started1962
Completed1964
Demolished2014–15
Cost$2,000,000
Technical details
Floor count1
Floor area84,000 sq ft (7,800 m2)
Design and construction
Architecture firmStafford, Morin, and Longwood
Structural engineerW. W. Wilson
Main contractorGale M. Roberts Co.
Website
http://www.eugene-or.gov/index.aspx?nid=668

History

The building was the result of a national design contest that included 25 entries, later narrowed to four, and awarded to Stafford, Morin, and Longwood of Eugene and Portland in 1961. Site work began in early 1962.[2] The building opened in 1964.[3] The building and its landscaped plaza were immediately praised as low-key, open designs that welcomed public participation in government. In 1965, it was awarded a citation for excellence in community architecture by the Southwest Oregon chapter of the American Institute of Architects.

Obsolescence

As Eugene grew in population and as building codes changed, it became apparent that City Hall did not meet the needs of local government. The 84,000-square-foot (7,800 m2) building had become too small to house the many government departments and personnel, and city planners acquired office space in various nearby locations. City Hall relied upon steam heat provided by the Eugene Water and Electric Board, and when EWEB announced that it would no longer supply steam to downtown Eugene, the building's energy inefficiencies became obvious. Most troublesome to engineers, however, was that the building would not be structurally sound in an earthquake[1] and could collapse into the lower-level parking area. Gradually, all city offices were moved, and the building was abandoned in 2012.

Decision to demolish

An ongoing discussion began in the late 1990s about whether to demolish City Hall or to remodel it, and should City Hall remain on its present site or move.[4][5] A 2007 City Hall Complex Master Plan identified a timeline that included Phase Four Design and Construction of a new building by 2011. Police were relocated outside of downtown, but no action was taken on City Hall.[6]

Demolition under way in 2015

In January 2013, the Eugene City Council voted to construct a new city hall rather than renovate the existing building.[7] The old building was razed in 2014–15,[1][8] following the adoption of plans to construct a new 25,000-square-foot (2,300 m2) in its place. Demolition began in September 2014[9] and was completed around June 2015.[10]

As of 2014, the cost of a replacement building was budgeted at $15 million and its opening was expected in fall 2016,[11] but by mid-2016 the estimated cost had grown to $18.2 million (or nearly $28 million for the entire project, including demolition of the old city hall), and had not yet received city council approval.[12] The long-term plan includes a potential second phase with construction of another building on the site that would bring the total size to 100,000 square feet (9,300 m2).[13]

References
  1. "Eugene City Council confirms decision to tear down City Hall". OregonLive.com. Associated Press. September 25, 2014. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  2. "Work Begun Clearing Site of City Hall: Demolition Started on First Structure". Eugene Register-Guard. February 7, 1962. p. 1B.
  3. "Great Buildings Collection: Eugene City Hall". Architecture Week. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
  4. Russo, Edward (September 17, 2005). "Architect says keep City Hall". Register-Guard. Eugene, Oregon: Guard Publishing. pp. D2. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
  5. Pittman, Alan (August 17, 2006). "DOOMED TO DEMO: Does Eugene really need to destroy its existing City Hall?". Eugene Weekly. Eugene, Oregon. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
  6. "Eugene City Hall Complex Master Plan". City of Eugene, Thomas Hacker Architects, Inc. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
  7. "City Hall Planning". Rowell Brokaw Architects. 2014. Archived from the original on September 4, 2014. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  8. McDonald, Rachel (March 11, 2015). "Eugene City Hall Is Coming Down Fast". KLCC. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  9. Offenbacher, Claude (September 9, 2014). "City Hall Once More In Limbo". KLCC. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  10. Maciel, Ocar (August 27, 2015). "Construction of Eugene's City Hall Set to Start Next Year". KEZI. Archived from the original on September 14, 2016. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  11. Russo, Edward (August 29, 2014). "Despite protests, City Hall end near". The Register Guard. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  12. Hill, Christian (July 12, 2016). "Eugene City Council postpones decision on proposed new City Hall". The Register-Guard. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  13. Russo, Edward (July 15, 2014). "City Hall plans take shape". The Register Guard. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
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