Riverdale School District will decide whether to renovate or replace historic building designed by famous Portland architect

By Sam Bennett, Portland Daily Journal of Commerce

A grade school building designed by Portland’s most famous architect, A.E. Doyle, has become the focus of a debate over what is best for historic building preservation and what might be best for students at the school.

On Wednesday evening, residents of Dunthorpe, a wealthy, unincorporated neighborhood just north of Lake Oswego, filled the Riverdale Grade School gym – with many arguing that the school's main building must be preserved for its architectural merits and that saving the school is a more sustainable solution than replacing it.

Proponents for preserving the building turned in 540 signatures to the school board, saying it is an icon of the neighborhood and “serves as a symbol of our long tradition of community commitment to educational excellence.”

Residents who argued passionately to keep “the genius of Doyle in our neighborhood” were countered by those who said the K-8 school is insufficient for district needs because of its size and age.

But preservationists countered that the building can be saved and that an addition can be built nearby on the school’s 8.9-acre campus.

Doyle designed the Multnomah County Library in 1912, the Benson Hotel in 1913, theMeier & Frank building in 1909, the Pittock Block in 1912, PGE Park in 1926 and the master plan for Reed College in 1911. He also designed fountains in downtown Portland known as the Benson Bubblers.

Doyle designed Riverdale Grade School in 1920, as well as additions in 1923 and 1927. Doyle received help for the last addition from Pietro Belluschi, who became Doyle’s principal designer in 1927. Doyle died in 1928.

But the district has outgrown the building, and residents passed a $21.5 million bond measure earlier this month to renovate or replace the school and build nearby additions. The school board has endorsed the idea of designing a replacement for the historic structure, and Mahlum Architects was hired before the bond measure passed to begin redesigning its replacement.

The school board may make a final decision on whether to demolish or renovate the school at its meeting on Monday. The board could also elect to study further the issue of renovating.

“Saving the Doyle is the thread running through every person in this room,” said LeRoy Landers of Mahlum, speaking to a crowd of several hundred. Landers led the design of the two-story replacement of the Doyle school.

“It’s an absolutely beautiful building,” he said, in reference to the original structure. Landers added that it would be impossible to replace the building with another like it, because of the detail in the 88-year-old structure.

“Riverdale School is the work of Portland’s greatest architect,” said Chris Niles, a professor of history and author of the new book “Beauty of the City: A.E. Doyle, Portland’s Architect.” Niles submitted his thoughts about the school in a Nov. 17 letter to the school board. “Perhaps Riverdale School Board too can decide to preserve their Doyle building in keeping with Portland’s tradition of honoring and preserving Doyle’s work. I hope Riverdale School, like Central Library and 35 other buildings, might be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.”

Preservation proponents said they would like to pursue a landmarks designation for the building and said they would consider pursuing a case with the state Land Use Board of Appeals if the board votes to demolish the grade school.

Several residents, including Bruce Burns, said saving the building is the sustainable choice.

“Let’s show our community and children that preservation is sustainability,” said Burns. “There’s nothing greener than preserving a building. Let’s be green stewards of the community.”

“I would like to save it,” said Henry Fitzgibbon, an architect with Soderstrom Architects. “It can be done. Keep the Doyle.”

Several residents said they don’t see the point of keeping a building that preserves fond memories for alumni and Dunthorpe residents but is not large enough.

“It’s not a monument or a statue,” said one resident. “The building should be a place of learning, and learning should be the focus of what happens. This is a historic monument to something that happened in the past.”

The school board will have to weigh for each scenario the potential costs and time required for students to be off campus during construction. Residents asked that the board carefully analyze each case before reaching a decision.

Article is courtesy of Sam Benett, Reporter, Architecture, Engineering, Urban Development & Sustainability - Portland Daily Journal of Commerce

Richard Ross, who taught at Riverdale between 1970 and 1979 and went on to be an urban and regional planner, said those who have been educators and have been educated in buildings designed by Doyle are positively affected by the quality of his designs.

“We need Riverdale to be a model for the inspired use of a historic building,” said Ross.

Melissa Creamer, who graduated from Riverdale in 1985, said saving the building can be a lesson for students. “By saving the Doyle we teach students not to be hasty in seeking immediate ease and financial shortcuts,” she said.

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