Riverdale demolition: "vandalism", says Oregonian

Today's Oregonian includes an editorial about the planned demolition of Riverdale School set in motion by its recent school board vote.

The editorial focuses primarily on explaining Doyle's historical significance. "If you ask knowledgeable Portlanders about the architect who did the most to compose the city's early style, you'll hear about A.E. Doyle," they write. "He designed some of the most significant buildings and features in the area, from Multnomah Falls Lodge to the Benson Bubblers." And Central Library, and the Benson Hotel, and Meier & Frank, and tons of others.

In the last two paragraphs the editorial gets down to business:

"The trouble with history is that it can cost money. Buildings develop leaks and dry rot, old boilers shudder to a stop, tenants decide they need more room or different configurations. But communities benefit when they can maintain the historical fabric and take pains to integrate it with the new."

"Dunthorpe -- and all of Portland -- will be a poorer place without Doyle's Riverdale school. Not only will the students in that district lose a living link to Portland history, but the character of the neighborhood will be eroded in favor of charmless efficiency. That's an unfortunate lesson for us all."

When I went to the OregonLive.com website to find the article for linking in this post, there was already a comment from someone saying that the editors displayed "a lack of focus on...the students."

Well, let's look at this from the students' perspective. Sure, we want them to have a school designed to optimal green building standards. Luckily, that can be done by renovating the Doyle. And re-use of the existing structure is a paramount principle of green building. Others commenting on my previous post have discussed cramped surroundings inside the old school. But nobody is saying liberties can't be taken with significantly altering the inside of the building. Renovate it any way you want, wider hallways or whatever. And part of educating students is indoctrinating them to the fabric of local history that exists all around them. It's a huge privilege for them to be learning in a work of historic architecture by the city's all-time two favorite sons of architecture.

I and others who are passionate about saving Riverdale have perhaps done some unintended harm to the process by vilifying the school's board and decision makers for approving the demolition. After all, these are parents and community members who want the best for their kids. At the same time, the fact that a groundswell of support for saving Riverdale continues to gain steam throughout the community is an encouraging sign that the spirit of preservation remains in Portland - even if one of its toniest enclaves has its historical blinders on.

Earlier today I happened to peruse the Riverdale website to see about goings-on at the school. Now here's some irony for you: According to the most recent Principal's Newsletter, principal Jeremiah Patterson writes, "I'm thrilled to be back in the classroom, teaching an elective for 7th grade students called 'School Design.'  Right now we are studying changes in the American schoolhouse throughout history." How about studying the architectural pedigree of your own school, the one that your own board has voted to demolish?

Looking at his picture here, Patterson looks like the kind of fresh-faced enthusiastic person one would want leading a grade school. Deep down, I wonder what he thinks about tearing down the historic building where he works, and if his students succeed in learning about school design and architectural history in that class, what they will remember about what their parents tried to do.

Comments

[kathleen]

Hear, hear Brian. Perhaps the school should invite Brad Cloepfil to offer some suggestions on how to preserve the beauty and harmony of the current building while expanding the space. His involvement might help with fundraising for the project as well.

[ben]

or maybe somebody that has experience preserving historic architecture.

[jon]

while i'm sure cloepfil would be a great speaker for students, cloepfil isnt the best example to talk about preservation considering the whole lollipop building fight in nyc.

[ldf]

Dale Farr, AIA, at Fletcher Farr Ayotte, Architects would be the one to consult on Riverdale School. Successfully designed the upgrade for the Multnomah County Library; William Temple House; Crater Lake Lodge, Caplan Building downtown; White Stag Building for University of Oregon, etc., etc.