The Council of Independent Colleges: Historic Campus Architecture Project

Luther Hall

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Luther Hall (view from the south), Concordia University (OR)

Luther Hall (view from the southeast), Concordia University (OR)

Institution Name: Concordia University (OR)
Original/Historic Place Name: Luther Hall
Location on Campus:
Date(s) of Construction and Designer(s):

1948	original construction Jones & Marsh
1951	west addition Unknown
1993	east addition Unknown

Type of Place: Individual building
Style(s): (Glossary)
Materials:

Foundation: concrete

Walls: reinforced concrete; brick (facing)

Roof: composition shingle (addition, 1951)

Function:

1948-present (2007)	administration
1948-present (2007)	classrooms
ca. 1951	chapel (second floor west addition)
1951-1981	library (first floor west addition)
1993-present (2007)	academic department building (biology and chemistry laboratories)
1993-present (2007)	faculty offices
1993-present (2007)	auditorium

Significance: education
Landmark designation:

none

Narrative: see below
References: see below

Narrative:
Construction of the original Luther Hall was completed in 1948 to provide badly needed administrative offices and classroom space as a replacement for a 1907 multipurpose building.

Daily chapel services were conducted over time in various locations, a situation that was deemed less than satisfactory. Daily worship is considered a vital part of the students' spiritual development, and the practice of conducting daily chapel services in various campus locations was eventually deemed unsatisfactory. An addition was therefore constructed on the west end of Luther Hall to provide a chapel on the second floor and a library on the first floor. Concerns over accreditation led to the incorporation of a library in the planning.

The library moved into a new building in 1981; the vacated space was converted to administrative offices.

The building's classrooms, especially the science labs, became inadequate for a growing curriculum. In 1993 an addition was constructed on the east end of the original Luther Hall to provide modern classrooms, biology and chemistry laboratories, an auditorium, and faculty offices. The building, incidentally, was constructed in such as way as to save a large century-old Garry Oak tree growing nearby.

The chapel was no longer adequate for a growing student body, so daily chapel worship was moved to a nearby church. The chapel will be decommissioned so it can be used for other purposes.

References:

I. Bibliographic sources:

Nauss, A. H. "Concordia Academy, Portland Oregon." Concordia Historical Institute Quarterly 25-27.

Weber, E. P. "History of Concordia, Portland: 1905-1995." Concordia Historical Institute Quarterly 71 (1988): 1-19.

II. Location of other data:

University: Library, Special Collections, Facilities Management Office