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OSU Buildings Histories in the Special Collections and Archives Research Center

Building History

A black and white image of the Paleontology Lab, now known as the Hattie Redmond Women and Gender Center.

In 1937, due to limited space in the existing building, coupled with a significant growth in the campus population, a new, Student Health Service Building was built; it was one of two WPA-constructed buildings on campus designed by architect John Bennes, and was later replaced by the Plageman Student Health Center. The building was completed in 1938.

Meanwhile, after more nearly 50 years, the health service building was once again inhabited by members of the Department of Chemistry; in 1937, it was repurposed to serve as an auxiliary space for the department, specifically for graduate students in Chemistry, and served that purpose through 1941.

In 1941, the building was repurposed again, this time as the Paleontology lab; it served as the Paleontology lab for over thirty years. Upon the completion of the Earth Sciences building in late 1972, and subsequent relocation of the paleontology lab, the building briefly sat vacant. In January 1973, the building was once again inhabited, this time by its final tenant: the Women's Studies program. The building was thus renamed the Women's Center.

General Information

Address

1700 SW Pioneer Place

Architect

Unknown

Year Built

1892

Renovations

Unknown

Square Footage

3,362

Purpose/Usage

Paleontology laboratory space

Previous Name(s)

Health Services Building, Mining Building, Assay Building, Station or Chemistry Building

Namesake

N/A

Historic District

Yes

Blueprints

None

Maps

Facilities Services Records, 1888-2003. Series XX:  Campus, Farm, and Property Maps, 1899-1990. Campus and Farm Maps: 3-A

Oregon State University Campus Maps, 1894-1994

Photographs

Oregon State University Historical Photographs, 1868-1980

Further Archival Information

SCARC: SCARC's holdings include photographs documenting the history of the Paleontology Lab.

Oregon Digital: Includes photographs and textual material documenting the history of the Paleontology Lab.

Map