Eugene/Architecture/Alphabet: W

 

The Willcox Building, originally the First Congregational Church, located at 492 East 13th Avenue in Eugene (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 W, for which my choice is the Willcox Building. As is the case now with several of my entries in the Eugene/Architecture/Alphabet series, I gleaned much of the information that follows from the building’s listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

 

View from the northwest along 13th Avenue.

Willcox Building

The Willcox Building, originally built in 1925 as the First Congregational Church, is one of Eugene’s more distinctive architectural landmarks. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1980, it’s a relatively rare local example of Mediterranean Revival architecture, with influences from California Mission style and English design trends of the early 20th century. 

Designed by Walter R.B. Willcox—an architect and educator who led the University of Oregon’s Department of Architecture from 1923 until his death in 1947—the building served as both a place of worship and a teaching tool. Willcox encouraged students to study its forms and finishes firsthand, and it stands as the best surviving example of his work in Eugene.

The building’s layout originally followed a modified “H” plan: sanctuary to the west, classrooms to the east, with a chapel and study connecting them. The sanctuary (now Auditorium No. 1) features exposed trusses supported by curved wood brackets, with delicate stenciling on the purlins and truss members. The walls are finished in a rough “Mission” plaster that contrasts with the dark wood trim and moldings. Originally, hand-wrought light fixtures hung from long rods, shaded by copper screens punched with small patterns. The stairway to the balcony—a tight turn with no landing—displayed Willcox’s inventive approach to space.

Timber trusses with stenciled patterns at the lobby ceiling.

Inside Auditorium No. 1 (formerly the church sanctuary).

The exterior is finished in creamy-white gunite, a blown-on cement material that lends a soft, textured appearance, especially around corners and window frames. The dark brown wood trim provides contrast, and the building’s proportions and detailing reflect a thoughtful use of modest materials. Additions over the years, including mortuary facilities in the 1950s and a theater expansion in the 1980s—have been constructed with care to match the original character.

From 1980 until its closure in 2021, the building housed the Bijou Art Cinemas. My wife and I attended many films there over the years. The experience was always enhanced by the setting—a former sanctuary and chapel that lent a quiet dignity to the act of watching a movie. The building’s architectural character was never just a backdrop; it helped to shape the experience.

Courtyard.

One of its most appealing features is the small, cloistered courtyard formed by the southern recess of the “H” plan. These kinds of spaces—partially enclosed, open to the sky, buffered from the street—offer a sense of calm and enclosure. I like that the Willcox Building’s courtyard is scaled for people, not spectacle. Ellis Lawrence’s courtyard at the University of Oregon’s Art Museum shares this quality: a space where proportion, texture, and light work together to create a moment of quiet.

After the Bijou closed, the building sat vacant until it was revived as the Art House, a multi-use venue that now hosts films, music, and community events.(1)  A recent restoration highlighted the original hand-stenciled woodwork and Spanish Mission-style flourishes. The Art House recently sold the building to the Los Angeles-based company STVDIO SPACE, who plans to preserve the structure while adding studio space for student artists.

The Willcox Building stands as a reminder of Eugene’s architectural and educational history. It reflects the values of its architect: craftsmanship, innovation, and a belief in architecture as a teaching tool. In a city shaped by change, it remains a steady presence.

(1)    My wife and I attended an Art House screening this past week of the documentary film Water Lilies of Monet – The Magic of Water and Light.