Oregon State Hospital

Oregon State Hospital - Planning, Architecture, Conservation - ARG

This massive site, containing over 70 buildings, was initially built up between 1883 and 1958. As one of the oldest mental health facilities on the west coast, the Oregon State Hospital provided a project that utilized all three of ARG’s disciplines, from planning (performing a Historic Resources Report), architecture (restoration of the mortuary, greenhouse, and maintenance building and adaptive reuse of the warehouse building), and conservation (exterior restoration of the Kirkbride Building). ARG also produced design guidelines to assist the City of Salem and the Oregon Department of Human Services in evaluating future work within the district.

What You May Not Know

Though the hospital has expanded greatly since its opening in 1883, the original Kirkbride Building has remained a psychiatric hospital since its construction.

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The 1975 film “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” was shot at the Oregon State Hospital, and featured OSH superintendent Dean Brooks in a small but memorable role.

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ARG also produced extensive design guidelines to assist the City of Salem and the Oregon Department of Human Services in evaluating future work within the district.

 

For the Oregon State Hospital award page, please click HERE.

Photography by Josh Partee

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