Oregon State University has completed a multiyear rehabilitation of Cordley Hall, converting a 23,039-square-meter (248,000-square-foot) science building into an updated research and teaching facility while retaining the existing structure.
Cordley Hall was built in two phases, in 1954 and 1967. By 2017, the building faced mounting infrastructure issues. Its exterior envelope, along with mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, no longer met the needs of modern labs and classrooms. Recurring failures also threatened research operations.
Instead of demolishing the building, OSU chose a phased renovation. The approach preserved embodied resources and maintained the building’s historic campus character while allowing the project team to upgrade major components over time. Hennebery Eddy provided architecture and interiors, and Andersen Construction Company served as general contractor.
On the exterior, the work included extensive brick repairs and full window replacement. A new entrance canopy now anchors the building’s presence and reconnects it to Campus Way, a major pedestrian corridor.
Inside, the renovation reshaped teaching and research labs, classrooms, offices, and the lecture hall. The team added common spaces across all floors, including meeting rooms, study areas, and lounges. The design also emphasized visibility and collaboration by increasing transparency between labs, classrooms, and circulation areas. Hallway exhibits and public-facing displays incorporate parts of OSU’s natural history collections, including arthropod and herbarium resources.
For mason contractors, projects that pair brick repair scopes with full window replacement put details under a bright light at every opening. Sequencing also drives results on campus jobs, where access, staging, and pedestrian routes affect daily production.
Read the full, original article from The Construction Specifier here.