Gilbert Hall

Architect: Lawrence & Holford.

Commerce Hall, 1920s

Gilbert Hall, 2004.

History

Construction ended in 1921 for this building originally called Commerce Hall. Stylistically, it was paired with the Education Building (Oregon Hall) (1916) sited across from it, to serve as "entry pylons" for the main campus quadrangle.
Commonwealth Hall, which opened in 1952, connected the Education and Commerce buildings.
In 1975, Commonwealth Hall was renamed Gilbert Hall after James H. Gilbert, and the adjacent buildings were renamed Gilbert East and West.
Commonwealth Hall was demolished in 2001 to construct the new Lillis Business Complex. The Gilberts were attached to the new central structure; Gilbert West was renamed Peterson Hall and Gilbert East became Gilbert Hall.

Shellenbarger, Michael. "Gilbert Hall." University of Oregon Architecture--A Personal Tour. [University of Oregon, 1986].
Singer, David Adam. Historic Structures Report : the Education Building and Commerce Hall (the West and East wings of the Gilbert Complex) on the University of Oregon Campus, Eugene : a Terminal Project. [Eugene] : University of Oregon, Historic Preservation Dept., [2000]. [AAA LD4365.G55 S56 2000]

"Two buildings get new names; Commonwealth becomes Gilbert Hall, Physical Education becomes Esslinger Hall." Daily Emerald 22 May 1975: 2.
"Missing Pieces: Architectural mystery solved: University: A graduate student finds terra cotta buried 50 years ago in a vault under Gilbert Hall. [Il]," Register Guard. 24 Mar. 2000:2 , 1B, 4B.