University of Oregon Chapman Hall Rehabilitation

Chapman Hall, home to the Clark Honors College, was built in 1939 and designed by UO architect Ellis Lawrence. Hennebery Eddy helped UO preserve the original character while designing a complete rehabilitation, from seismic and accessibility upgrades to state-of-the-art living and learning facilities. The historic university renovation design responds to the original features and configurations of the building, reflecting its traditional academic nature while transcending these boundaries by blending formal and informal elements.

The hall isn’t simply a place for students to attend classes — Chapman is honors students’ home away from home. To this end, we integrated six different types of social and common spaces throughout the building. Classrooms are intentionally small, supporting ongoing dialogue between students and instructors. The third-floor library embraces the historic nature of a formal reading room while also offering modern amenities to facilitate group work sessions.

The rehabilitation also addresses deferred maintenance and building system upgrades, including new energy-efficient HVAC and MEP systems to both reduce operational costs and improve overall comfort. Certified LEED Gold, our renovation design proves not only that historic buildings can achieve high-performing, net-positive outcomes, but that they can even exceed goals for sustainable design and modern comfort — all without compromise to the design integrity, historic features, or budget.

“Visitors and donors who visit the new building are amazed — they think we added area because the renovation feels so much bigger inside.”

— Renee Dorjahn, Director of Finance and Administration, University of Oregon

Chapman Hall was originally used for home economics, English classes, and a bookstore.