A New Year, A New Chapter

It is New Year’s Eve as I write this, and people everywhere are or will shortly be celebrating the turn of the calendar to 2024. By marking the end of one year and the beginning of another, they reflect on the past and look forward to the future with hope and optimism. It is a time to embrace new beginnings and anticipate what lies ahead.

This year’s celebration is a particularly momentous one for me, as I intend to retire next spring, shortly after I turn 65. While others reflect on the events and achievements that defined 2023, I cannot escape looking back on my four-plus decades in the architectural profession and what leaving active employment will mean for me. As is the case for many retirees-to-be, the transition promises to be profound, one that will shape who I am and what I become through my remaining years.

Attitudes toward retirement have evolved significantly over recent generations, influenced by various social, economic, and cultural factors. In the past, retirement often meant a sharp exit from the workforce. Many individuals now choose to work beyond the “traditional” retirement age (hello, 65!) for financial security, personal fulfillment, and to stay active. My plan is to fully commit to the next phase of my life and not extend my professional career, even on a part-time basis. This may seem uncharacteristic for an architect, as I can point to countless role models who practiced well into their golden years.(1)

Plenty of literature exists about the emotions and anxieties associated with arriving at retirement. According to the Holmes-Rahe Life Stress Inventory, the milestone ranks 10th on the list of life’s most stressful events.(2) It’s not uncommon to feel apprehensive about exiting the workforce. Am I stressed about what is ahead of me?

I am concerned I will initially struggle to “switch off” from work mode and relax. Will the loss of routine and structure be a problem? Will I find it difficult to fill my extra hours with activities that are truly meaningful? I know I will dearly miss the social interaction with my fantastic coworkers at Robertson/Sherwood/Architects, as well as with the clients, consultants, and contractors with whom I have collaborated. I worry most about the extent to which I have tied my sense of identity to being an architect and the degree to which my vocation has defined who I am. I suspect letting go of my professional being will be hard.

On the other hand, life is too darn short, and I have not lived as much of it as I should. I too often have overcommitted to work obligations and neglected my personal side, so it has not been unusual for me to approach burnout in recent years. I do feel good about the contributions I have made professionally—how I have helped clients and the community through my work—so I will leave my career with a clear conscience, free of regret. Simply put, the time is right for me to move on. I want to stop and smell the roses.

I look forward to leaving behind the demands of a full-time job, checking things off my bucket list, attending to my personal well-being (with an emphasis on staying mentally and physically active to ensure the best health outcome for myself as I age), staying curious while being a life-long learner, and trying new hobbies. First and foremost, I want to spend quality time with my wife so that I can likewise help her enjoy life to the fullest.

This blogsite, SW Oregon Architect, will continue to be a focus. I’ll need to change its name, as I intend to relinquish my professional licensure, change my State of Oregon registration status to “Architect Emeritus,” and no longer actively practice as an architect (the title of “Architect” is reserved for individuals properly licensed and regulated under ORS 671.010). Besides a name change, my guess is my blog will increasingly shift away from content tied to architecture toward a broader range of topics, including more personal musings. It will continue to provide me with a creative platform on which to express my thoughts, self-reflect, and exercise my gray matter.

I have abandoned the concept of New Year’s resolutions in the past, knowing my penchant for inevitable failure. But this time is different. My imminent retirement demands that I recalibrate my goals. I want this next chapter to be extraordinary—rich with new adventures, important connections, and the pursuit of passions beyond the proverbial drafting table—while I adapt to a new lifestyle, free from the daily grind yet brimming with possibilities.

Happy New Year to everyone! May your 2024 be as gratifying as I hope my time in retirement will prove to be, full of whatever comes my way.

(1)    Famous architects who continued to work right up to the end of their long lives include Frank Lloyd Wright (age 92), Oscar Niemeyer (105), Philip Johnson (99), and I.M. Pei (102).

(2)    Indeed, a study by the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan has found that the risk of a heart attack or stroke is especially acute during the first year of retirement and then starts to level off. My plan is not to contribute toward reinforcing that statistic.

Solstice Architecture

Long winter solstice shadows, Howard Buford Recreation Area, December 21, 2023 (photo by R. Fletcher).

I played hooky from work this past Thursday afternoon to join a group of friends on a hike at the Howard Buford Recreation Area near Eugene. We couldn’t have asked for better conditions as the weather was unseasonably dry and sunny, perfect for a pleasant stroll along some of the park’s forest and oak savanna trails at the base of Mt. Pisgah (I got my 10,000 steps in for the day and then some). Our gathering for the hike is a winter solstice tradition, annually bringing this circle of friends together. We not only observe the solstice and celebrate the holiday season, but also take the opportunity to connect with nature and welcome the return of longer days. 

The winter solstice is tremendously significant as it is the shortest day and the longest night of the year. In the Northern Hemisphere, it occurs when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Capricorn, which is located 23.5 degrees south of the equator. Ceremonies held during the winter solstice often center around themes of renewal, hope, and the triumph of light over darkness. Many people view these events, which observe key points in Earth's orbit around the sun, to be of substantial cultural, religious, and practical importance. 

Unsurprisingly, humans have long used architecture to mark important astronomical occurrences such as the solstices and equinoxes. Certain ancient societies built prominent edifices to serve as tangible connections between the earthly realm and the celestial sphere, particularly those associated with the apparent path of the sun.  

Stonehenge (photo by garethwiscombe, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)

The first instance that comes to everyone’s mind is Stonehenge in England, a prehistoric monument whose massive stones align with the sunrise on the summer solstice. Its purpose—a blend of religious and ceremonial significance—speaks to the ancient human impulse to seek meaning in the heavens above. Similarly, Newgrange in Ireland, with its passage tomb designed to capture the winter solstice sunrise, attests to the careful observation of celestial cycles and their integration into cultural practices. 

Entrance passage and entrance stone to Newgrange (photos by spudmurphy, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Other notable examples include the solar temples of Machu Picchu in Peru, the great structures of Abu Simbel in Egypt, the temple complex of Angkor Wat in Cambodia, the pyramid at Chichén Itzá in Mexico, and the Cahokia Mounds near St. Louis, Missouri.

The reasons for constructing such structures are diverse and often involve a combination of religious, spiritual, agricultural, and social motivations. The ancient cultures saw celestial events as critical markers in their calendars. Aligning structures with the solstices and equinoxes served practical purposes such as determining planting and harvesting seasons, as well as reinforcing cultural and religious beliefs. 

Modern-day examples of the design and construction of structures that acknowledge and interact with celestial events include Frank Lloyd Wright’s Usonian hemicycle homes and the various installations of the Sky Mirror sculpture. The arcing plan of Wright’s Jacobs II passive solar home acknowledges the sun’s changing aspect through the seasons, alternately welcoming its warmth during the winter and sheltering its glass wall from solar gain during the summer. The Sky Mirror, by artist Anish Kapoor, is a large stainless-steel mirror that reflects the sky and its changes, capturing the movements of the sun, clouds, and celestial occurrences.

Plan of the Jacobs II House, a hemicycle home by Frank Lloyd Wright. 

Sky Mirror, Kensington Gardens, London (photo by Gaius Cornelius, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons) 

While we did not climb Mt. Pisgah during our hike Thursday through the Buford Recreation Area, its grassy summit area notably features a bronze sighting pedestal by sculptor Pete Helzer that aligns itself with the winter and summer solstices. It is a memorial that honors Jed Kesey (son of famed Oregon author Ken Kesey) who, along with another member of the University of Oregon wrestling team, died at the age of twenty in a 1984 automobile accident. Two slots in the monument capture the sun's path on the solstices. At sunrise and sunset on those days, you can stand with the pedestal between you and the horizon to see the rising or setting sun. Ken Kesey said the sculpture represents "the impermanence of life and the infinity on either side of it." 

Mt. Pisgah Sighting Pedestal, Pete Helzer, sculptor (photo from the artist’s website) 

The winter solstice holds cultural and religious significance across various civilizations and belief systems. The connection with the celebration of Christmas is particularly fascinating, with numerous historical, symbolic, and cultural overlaps. Though the winter solstice was initially a pagan celebration, Christianity absorbed and repurposed existing cultural practices and festivals associated with it. In particular, the symbolism of light is central to both the solstice and Christmas. For pagans, it is the return of sunlight after the darkest day of the year, whereas in Christianity, it is the arrival of Jesus as a divine light into the world, bringing hope and salvation to believers. The symbolism of light, themes of renewal, and the adaptation of ancient practices have contributed to the rich tapestry of winter celebrations, making the season a time of joy, reflection, and shared cultural heritage. 

Solstice architecture is a bridge between our shared past and the boundless possibilities of our future. As my friends and I soaked in the last rays of sunlight on the year’s shortest day, I couldn’t help but reflect on the enduring connection between humanity and the cosmos, a bond that has found a sometimes-powerful expression through architecture. May your coming days likewise be filled with the warmth of connection, the brilliance of new experiences, and the enduring light of shared joy as we navigate the seasons of life with gratitude and wonder. Happy Holidays!

Pergolas

 

Pergola, Hendricks Park, Eugene (my photo)

My wife and I took advantage of the clear, crisp weather here in Eugene yesterday by taking a leisurely stroll through Hendricks Park. Hendricks Park was the site of our wedding back in 1988, so it is a special place for us. We frequently visit to enjoy the rhododendron garden (when in season), the native plant garden, the mature forest, and the views overlooking the city. One of the features of the rhododendron garden is a serene and contemplative outdoor room defined by a pergola. We paused there yesterday to enjoy the elemental structure and the sense of tranquil connection with nature it evokes.  

Pergolas are ages old, dating back to ancient Egypt and Rome. The word "pergola" is derived from the Latin word "pergula," meaning a projecting eave. In ancient times, pergolas were often used in gardens to provide support for climbing plants, creating a shaded walkway or passageway. Today, pergolas are likewise used as decorative elements in gardens, parks, and yards. Pergolas also offer a shaded space for outdoor activities, such as dining or relaxation. In some cases, they may be attached to a building, extending living spaces outdoors.

Pergolas typically consist of vertical posts or pillars that support crossbeams and often an open lattice or roof. The open structure allows for sunlight and airflow while providing partial shade. Materials for construction vary and can include wood, metal, vinyl, or a combination of these. The design can range from simple and functional to intricate and decorative.

 

Pergola, Owen Rose Garden, Eugene (my photo)

Pergolas carry symbolic meanings in many cultures, such as representing a connection between heaven and earth or serving as a metaphor for growth and transformation through the climbing plants that adorn them.

An aspect of pergolas (and likewise arbors and gazebos) I’ve always found attractive is their primitive, elemental quality. There are some conceptual parallels between the proverbial “primitive hut” and pergolas, particularly in terms of simplicity and the use of basic structural elements. Like pergolas, the primitive hut highlights a connection to nature, and an acknowledgment of the fundamental elements that contribute to the essence of architectural form. I’ve spent much time during my professional career seeking to understand that essence.

Famous pergolas include those on the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina, the Pioneer Park Square pergola in Seattle, and the mile-long pergola at Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California. Further afield there are the particularly extensive pergola located at the Gardens of the Hill in Hamstead Heath (London) and the pergola on the Wroclaw exhibition ground in Poland. There are also structures akin to pergolas, such as the “chhatris” of traditional Indian gardens, Japanese torii gates, Arabesque archways in Islamic gardens, and African lath houses.   

Pergola of the Walled Garden, Biltmore Estate, North Carolina (CC BY-SA 3.0 <http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/>, via Wikimedia Commons)

 

Pioneer Square Pergola, Seattle (photo by Joe Mabel CC BY-SA 3.0 <http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/>, via Wikimedia Commons)

Pergolas continue to evolve in design and purpose, adapting to contemporary styles while maintaining a timeless appeal. Their historical significance, combined with their aesthetic and functional qualities, ensures their enduring popularity in various cultures worldwide.

The following is an ode to the pergola, which I asked ChatGPT to write:

Ode to the Pergola
O graceful frame, beneath the open sky,
A dance of light, where vines and breezes sigh.
Pergola, noble structure, standing tall,
In gardens fair, you weave a timeless thrall.
 
Through wooden arches, sunlight gently weaves,
A tapestry of shadows 'midst the leaves.
With pillars strong, a sanctuary true,
You beckon us to skies of endless blue.
 
In whispers soft, the climbing tendrils play,
A symphony of green in the light of day.
Entwined with nature's grace, a living cloak,
Each vine a tale, in every leaf, bespoke.
 
Beneath your arms, a haven takes its form,
Where dreams unfurl, and hearts in quiet storm.
A sanctuary for lovers' whispered words,
In your embrace, the song of nesting birds.
 
Oh, pergola, in gardens rich and wide,
Your lattice tales, with every knot, confide.
Symbol of growth, of nature's firm embrace,
A timeless art, where moments find their place.
 
In moonlit nights, a silhouette so grand,
A celestial dance, as stars command.
A quiet witness to the passing years,
You stand unmoved, as laughter turns to tears.
 
So here's to you, dear pergola of grace,
A timeless structure in this boundless space.
In gardens, parks, or memories untold,
Your open arms, a story to unfold.

I find this a surprisingly good result by an A.I. bot, based as it is on such a simple prompt. It eloquently captures much of what I find appealing about such outwardly simple structures. 

I do like pergolas!

Eugene/Architecture/Alphabet: P

Prince Lucien Campbell Hall (all photos by me)

This is the next in my Eugene/Architecture/Alphabet series of blog posts, the focus of each being a landmark building here in Eugene. Many of these will be familiar to most who live here but there are likely to be a few buildings that are less so. My selection criteria for each will be threefold:

1. The building must be of architectural interest, local importance, or historically significant.
2. The building must be extant so you or I can visit it in person.
3. Each building’s name will begin with a particular letter of the alphabet, and I must select one (and only one) for each of the twenty-six letters. This is easier said than done for some letters, whereas for other characters there is a surfeit of worthy candidates (so I’ll be discriminating and explain my choice in those instances).

This entry’s selection begins with the letter P, for which my choice is Prince Lucien Campbell Hall.

Prince Lucien Campbell Hall
It was clear to me during my years as a student at the University of Oregon in the early 1980s that few among the campus community regarded Prince Lucien Campbell Hall with affection. Being both a high-rise—the 10-story structure was by far the tallest building on campus until the construction of the Bowerman Tower at Hayward Field—and an anomalous modernist design sited on the Memorial Quadrangle, “PLC” was particularly derided by my fellow students in the School of Architecture & Allied Arts. My guess is the level of animus has waned somewhat, as the passage of time and the acquisition of patina have softened some of the building’s hard edges. Additionally, PLC’s eventful history has become the stuff of UO legend, perhaps contributing to its acceptance as an iconic piece of the campus fabric.
 
Architects Glenn Stanton and Keith Robert McGuire, both graduates of UO’s architecture program, designed Prince Lucien Campbell Hall to provide substantial office space for university faculty, classrooms, and a large auditorium on a limited footprint. Named after the fourth president of the university, construction of the building occurred in two phases. The first, consisting of the five-story south wing and two stories forming the base of the future west wing, opened its doors in 1963. The second phase, completed in 1968, realized completion of the 108-foot-tall slab-like tower along Kincaid Street as well as the auditorium (now the PLC 180 Hyflex 2 Classroom).  
 

View from the Memorial Quadrangle.

Given its mid-century provenance, it isn’t surprising Stanton and McGuire worked within a modernist idiom, specifically the International Style, which eschewed historical forms in favor of simplified shapes and the adoption of glass, steel, and concrete as preferred building materials. PLC stands apart from its neighbors around the Memorial Quadrangle by virtue of its absence of ornamentation and asymmetrical massing.
 
The large English oak trees on the east side of PLC help give shape and form to the Memorial Quadrangle while also somewhat mitigating PLC’s bulk. The university planted the trees in 1940, so they would have been forty years old when I was in school, and perhaps much less substantial than they appear today.  
 
The incorporation of brick and colored tile on the façades does help PLC harmonize with the other buildings, as does setting the tower back toward the west edge of its site. In my opinion, while this aspect of its design works well on the quadrangle, the unrelieved form of the tower as seen from the west is its most objectionable attribute. This is exacerbated by the scaleless repetition of the graph paper-like composition across the entire façade.  
 

West façade. 

I alluded to PLC’s eventful past. One memorable event occurred in October of 1970, when someone planted and detonated a substantial amount of dynamite (estimated at between 20 and 24 sticks) in a ground floor restroom. While no one was hurt, the destruction was substantial, including burst plumbing and damage to four adjacent restrooms and ten offices. The Eugene Police and the FBI never found the perpetrator or perpetrators, and while researching for this blog post I could not find anything about the possible motives for the blast. This was the era of escalating student demonstrations during the Vietnam War, so perhaps the bombing was related to those protests.
 
PLC has unfortunately also been the site of multiple suicides. Desperate individuals have leaped to their death from the building’s highest balconies. Undoubtedly due to this tragic history, there are tales of people seeing ghostly figures at the top of PLC, experiencing chills, or feeling as if they are being watched when no one is there. According to Folklore Flags (a UO student-run project to connect folklore back to the context of place) the elevators in the building “are where some of the creepiest experiences have happened, especially when riding them alone and at night. Phenomena include hearing voices and whispers, feeling breath on the back of one’s neck, and feeling something brush against one’s body.”
 

"The Falconer" statue by James Lee Hansen.

In 2008, someone stole “The Falconer” statue from its pedestal in the courtyard on the Memorial Quadrangle side of PLC. The work of sculptor James Lee Hansen, the abstract bronze was donated to the university by Jordan Schnitzer and installed in 1974. My research suggests that it was never recovered, but I did find it (or a reproduction) sitting on its pedestal; see my accompanying photo (if someone knows this is the original, let me know).
 
Unlike many of my schoolmates and laypersons, I don’t think I ever disliked Prince Lucien Campbell Hall as a piece of architecture. It is a competent example of the International Style, which was the prevailing design philosophy of its time for institutional and commercial buildings. I view it now through rose-colored glasses, with fond memories of my time at the University of Oregon and the classes I attended within the building.

Concept to Completion: A Tale of Tenacity in Small Community Architecture

Rendering of the Flora M. Laird Memorial Library Expansion & Renovation 

Building projects do not happen overnight. Indeed, many only unfold over a protracted period, shaping and reshaping themselves as functional needs evolve and the vicissitudes of the construction marketplace dictate. I’ve been involved in several such projects, one of which—the expansion and renovation of the Flora M. Laird Memorial Library in Myrtle Point, Oregon—was more than two decades in the making. I attended its grand reopening celebration this past Friday, the deeply satisfying culmination of an epic journey for one small community’s library. 

The City of Myrtle Point initially retained my firm, Robertson/Sherwood/Architects, in November of 2002 for the purpose of designing a new building to replace its aging and undersized public library. The modest mid-century Modernist design was originally constructed in 1953 in accordance with plans developed by Max P. Williams & Robert B. Martin, Architects of Portland, and William A. Coffindaffer of Coos Bay. The building originally accommodated about 2,000 square feet of floor area, and subsequently expanded in 1984 by an additional 1,500 square feet, primarily to accommodate a conference room, staff workspaces, and the Children’s collection. Harlan/Miller Associates pc of Coos Bay prepared the design for that expansion. 

Our charge back then was to assist the City with the evaluation of alternative sites for the construction of the new library; however, after studying the assorted options, we concluded that none of the available properties ticked all the necessary boxes. 

The City identified another development option in March of 2004. This prospect ambitiously proposed the vacation of 5th Street between the existing Flora M. Laird Memorial Library and Myrtle Point’s City Hall for the purpose of constructing a new 6,657 SF addition connecting both buildings. The City found the concept appealing because it would address program needs for both facilities, while additionally keeping the Library in its familiar location. Furthermore, such a project would retain a sound existing asset, a more cost-effective strategy than constructing the equivalent new space from scratch. 

The 2004 "Civic Center" concept.

We characterized our resultant design as a new “Civic Center” for Myrtle Point, with aspirations as lofty as the moniker suggested. Alas, budget constraints loomed large. The 2004 estimate of the probable construction cost exceeded $3 million, which at the time was far more than could be matched by fundraising efforts. The City had no recourse but to place the project on hold and recalibrate its hopes for an expanded and modernized library. 

We updated the project’s cost estimate in 2006 and once more in 2008. Additional years would pass before we received a call from the City in 2014 to resume design work on a reduced scope option that omitted the improvements and expansion directly associated with the City Hall. We abandoned the idea of closing off 5th Street entirely, instead limiting the roadway to a single lane of traffic to provide the real estate necessary to accommodate the desired library program area. The new design reduced the area of new construction to half that of the 2004 scheme, but due to inflation the estimated cost remained virtually unchanged. Once again, the City shelved the project. 

Fast forward to 2020. The City and the Myrtle Point Library Foundation were determined to make the library expansion a reality, albeit in a significantly abridged form. The diminished program included a new Oregon Collection Room, a new main entrance vestibule, a covered outdoor reading patio, removal of barriers to accessibility (including provision of a new ADA-compliant restroom), refurbishment of the building’s exterior envelope, replacement of existing light fixtures with new energy-efficient LED fixtures, and interior repainting and replacement of ceiling and floor finishes. The total budget for the scaled-back design would be $850,000.00. 

This is the project we see today. It may not possess the grandeur of the initial concept, but it stands as a testament to the resilience, adaptability, and spirit of Myrtle Point’s citizenry. The project weathered the storms of budget constraints, shifting needs, and the passage of time. The most meaningful projects do not always adhere strictly to the initial blueprint but instead adapt and evolve, doing as much as possible to serve the needs of the people they are designed for. The expansion and renovation of the Flora M. Laird Memorial Library certainly fits this bill. 

View looking toward the new covered reading patio (left) and the new main entrance (center).

A barbershop quartet provided entertainment for the grand reopening celebration.

The new Oregon Collection Room.

Guests at the reopening celebration decorated tiles for installation in the renovation of the existing public restroom. 

The reinstalled building signage.

There is a profound sense of responsibility that comes with working on projects for a small municipality like Myrtle Point. I developed a connection with the folks there over the years. I felt accountable to them, and wanted to go the extra mile to ensure the expanded and renovated library would not only be aesthetically pleasing but functional, sustainable, and in harmony with the community ethos. 

As I wrote in my Architecture is Awesome #33 post, there are few things more rewarding for me as an architect than witnessing the genuine smiles and expressions of delight from clients and user groups upon first enjoying a project I had a hand in designing. Happy smiles and thanks for a job well-done were in abundance during the grand reopening celebration for the Flora M. Laird Memorial Library. Architects impact lives in many profound ways, most significantly by helping others. Friday evening validated my decision to become an architect and served as a powerful reminder of why I do what I do.