Historic Property Inventory Report for
Stuen Hall
at
1280 Park A venue St 5, # 1 2, Parkland (Tacoma, WA
Modern - Postmodern Changes to windows:
Intact
Other (specify): Foundation
Cladding
Concrete - Poured
Veneer - Brick Wood
Roof Material
Asphalt I Composition - Shingle
Date Of Construction :
\NARRATIVE SECTION Study Unit
Other
Education
P rivate College
Ethnic Heritage
Norwegian / Scandinavian
Religion
Lutheran
Architect:
Roof Type
Hip - Parallel Hipped
1 966
Lea, Pearson & Richards
Builder: Engineer:
Property appears to meet criteria for the National Register of Historic Places: No Property i s located in a potential historic d istrict (National and/or local): Property potentially contributes to a historic district (National and/or local): Statement of Significance
Yes - Local Yes
Named for Ole Johnson Stuen, born in Oppdal, Norway. Stuen was the first faculty member at the Pacific Lutheran Academy with a graduate degree, a Master in Arts. He t aught mathematics, Norse and was the Librarian. His period of service to the University was from 1 91 3- 1 9 1 8 and 1 92 1 - 1 952. Stuen Hall is one of many examples of the explosive growlh experienced by college campuses, both public and private, in the years following World War I I . This trend spanned multiple generations starting with the returning G . I .'s from World War III and thei r children. Stuen Hall represents the restrained modernism of the late 1 960's, the use of warmer, more textural, traditional building materials including masonry and wood in contrast to the cool sleekness of steel and concrete. The architect of Stuen Hal l , the firm of Lea, Pearson & Richards, were a Tacoma architecture firm composed of three partners: Charles Winthrop Lea, J r. ( 1 903 - 1 990) , Charles Theodore Pearson ( 1 905 - 1 994) and John Greenway Richards ( 1 908 - 1 985?). An award for named for Charles T. Pearson is awarded semi-annually by the American I nstitute of Architects (AlA) Southwest Washington Chapter; Pearson was one of the founders of the chapter and its third President in 1 958. Pearson was President of the AlA Washington Council i n 1 962 and elected to the college of Fellows of the AlA in 1 973. The office was started in 1 937 and was the largest firm in Tacoma for many decades . The firms work at the Pacific Lutheran University Campus and nearby include: Memorial Gym ( 1 947), Science Building now named Ramstad ( 1 947) , North now named Hong Residence Hall ( 1 954), Common Hall now named Ingram Hall ( 1 956), West Hall now named Kreidler Residence Hall ( 1 957), Philip E. Hauge Administration Building ( 1 960), Trinity Lutheran Church Sanctuary ( 1 960), Pflueger Hall Residence ( 1 962) ' Foss Residence Hall ( 1 965) , Ordal Residence Hall ( 1 967), and Stuen Hall ( 1 966). The following subcontractors took part i n the construction of the building : Mechanical Contractor - Allison, I nc . , Tacoma; Electrical Contractor - H&R Wiring, I nc . ; Built-In Furnishings - Tech-Craft, I nc, Tacoma; Furnishings - Spokane Dry Goods, Spokane; Floor Coverings - Selden's, Tacoma; Concrete - Holyroyd and Sound Concrete Contractors, both of Tacoma.
Description of Physical Appearance
I
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Page 2 of 3
Stuen Hall is bordered by 1 2 1 st Street South to the North, Hauge Administration Building and parking lot to the east, Hong Hall to the South and Ordal Hall to the west. Together with Ordal Hall and a sinusoidal brick wall to the north forms an outdoor room for the resident's use. The rectangular building runs north - south and has a small projecting bay on the west side, which consists of two levels of balcony above a glass enclosed room . All of the windows project in a continous vertical bay for three stories, the aluminum glazing alternates with stained horizontal wood siding. The rest of the building is clad in running bond masonry veneer. Detail for the masonry veneer includes skipped units that create ' ventilation grills. At the west entry this skipped masonry detailing is also used for architectural grills and a grid of punch e d wi n dows.__________ ________ --' ________
Pri nted on
1 /20/201 1 1 1 :43 :56 AM