Skip to Main Content

OSU Buildings Histories in the Special Collections and Archives Research Center

Building History

A color image of Merryfield Hall.

 

Named for Fred Merryfield, Merryfield Hall was built in 1908. From 1930 until 1965, Merryfield taught engineering at OSU, and was a founding partner in the consulting engineering form of Cornell, Howland, Hays, and Merryfield (CH2M) Hill, Inc. Much of Merryfield's research focused on water pollution control and turbine development.

At its construction in 1908, the central, two-story section of the Mechanical Arts building housed administrative offices for each of the "arts" departments headquartered in the building (Industrial Arts and Mechanic/Mechanical Arts), and rooms for display of student projects. This central section also included a lecture room and dark room. The east wing housed the machine shop, blacksmith shop and stock room, while the south wing housed the woodworking shop, the carpentry shop, the printing office, and another stock room. Between 1934 and 1964, the building was known as the Industrial Arts Building, before the named was changed to Production Technology Building (1965-1978). From 1978 to present, the building has been known as Merryfield Hall.

 

General Information

Address

1600 SW Monroe Ave, Corvallis, OR 97331

Architect

Unknown

Year Built

1908

Renovations

1935, 1947, 1949, 1958, 1963, 1972, 2020

Square Footage

27,329

Purpose/Usage

Classrooms, shops, administrative offices

Previous Name(s)

Mechanical Arts building (1908-1934), Industrial Arts building (1934-1964), Production Technology building (1965-1978)

Namesake

Fred Merryfield, Professor of Civil Engineering

Historic District

Yes

Blueprints

Facilities Services Records, 1888-2010

Maps

Oregon State University Campus Maps, 1894-1994

Photographs

Buildings Photographic Collection, 1880-2002; News and Communication Services Photograph Collection, 1949-1999

Further Archival Information

College of Engineering - Take a Walk Through History

SCARC: A search for "Merryfield Hall" returns 6 collections, including photographs and College of Engineering records.

Oregon Digital: Includes photographs and textual materials relating to the history of Merryfield Hall.

Map