Building Oregon
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- Alternative Title
- Humboldt Elementary School (Portland, Oregon)
- Creator Display
- Max P. Williams (architect, 1909-2003)
- Robert Martin (architect, 1915- )
- Creator
- Date
- 1990
- 1959
- Description
- This image is included in Building Oregon: Architecture of Oregon and the Pacific Northwest, a digital collection which provides documentation about the architectural heritage of the Pacific Northwest.
- Oregon Historic Site Form. Prepared by Iris Eschen.
- View Date
- 2009
- Temporal
- 1909-1999
- 1950-1959
- MODS Note
- Oregon Historic Site Form Humboldt School 4915 Gantenbein Ave Portland, Multnomah County block nbr: lot nbr: tax lot nbr: township: range: section: 1/ 4: LOCATION AND PROPERTY NAME elig. evaluation: not eligible/ non- contributing primary orig use: School secondary orig use: primary style: Northwest Regional secondary style: International primary siding: Standard Brick secondary siding: plan type: School ( General) Portland historic name: Humboldt School primary constr date: 1959 secondary date: 1990 height (# stories): 1 total # ineligible resources: 4 ( optional-- use for major addns) current/ other names: Humboldt Elementary School ( c.) ( c.) orig use comments: prim style comments: sec style comments: location descr: assoc addresses: vcnty address: ( remote sites) siding comments: PROPERTY CHARACTERISTICS farmstead/ cluster name: zip: total # eligible resources: 0 apprx. addrs resource type: Building NR status: RLS survey date: 6/ 19/ 2009 external site #: 164 ( ID# used in city/ agency database) survey project name or other grouping name comments/ notes: ILS survey date: 6/ 19/ 2009 Gen File date: SHPO INFO FOR THIS PROPERTY NR date listed: GROUPINGS / ASSOCIATIONS Optional Information 4915 N Gantenbein Ave Multnomah County ( former addresses, intersections, etc.) architect: Max Williams & Robert Martin builder: NR date listed: ( indiv listed only; see Grouping for hist dist) 106 Project( s) PPS Historic Building Assessment 2009 Survey & Inventory Project East elevation Printed on: 10/ 14/ 2009 Page 1 of 3 Oregon Historic Site Form Humboldt School 4915 Gantenbein Ave Portland, Multnomah County ARCHITECTURAL / PROPERTY DESCRIPTION ( Include expanded description of the building/ property, setting, significant landscape features, outbuildings, and alterations) HISTORY ( Chronological, descriptive history of the property from its construction through at least the historic period [ preferably to the present]) Description Summary Situated in the Humboldt neighborhood of northeast Portland, Humboldt School is located at 4915 N Gatenbein Avenue. The school occupies the north portion of its 3.05- acre campus. The primary entrance to the campus is from the east on N. Gantenbein Avenue. In addition to the main school building ( 164a), the campus also features two portable classroom buildings ( 164b, c) and a covered playshed ( 164d). Oriented on an east- west axis, the wood frame structure is clad with a brick veneer. The single story building rests on a poured concrete foundation. Fenestration consists of grouped metal frame windows. Architectural Description Situated in the Humboldt neighborhood of northeast Portland, Humboldt School is located at 4915 N Gatenbein Avenue. Development in the vicinity of the school consists of a mixture of single family residence, larger multi- family residential buildings, and commercial buildings. The school occupies the northeast portion of the 3.05- acre campus. The primary entrance to the campus is from the east on N. Gantenbein Avenue. In addition to the main school building, the campus also features two portable classroom buildings and a covered playshed. Asphalt covered play areas are located on the southwest side of the campus. Humbolt School features an L- shaped finger plan. Oriented on an east- west axis, the main school building is wood frame with a brick veneer constructed in the Northwest Regional style. The building is covered by a gable roof that cantilevers approximately twenty feet from the building to provide a covered entry. The single story building rests on a poured concrete foundation. Fenestration consists of grouped metal frame windows. Glass entry doors provide access to a double height lobby. From the lobby double loaded corridors extend west and south to provide access to the school facilities. A multi- purpose room, located immediately adjacent to the lobby, serves as the primary gathering space for the building. The concrete block walls of the multi- purpose room are exposed. Glulaminated arches support the ceiling. Linoleum tiles cover the corridor and classroom halls. Fluorescent light fixtures are affixed to the acoustic tiles that cover the ceiling. The classrooms are rectangular. Built- in wooden cabinetry on the interior walls provides additional acoustic barriers between the classrooms. The slope of the gable roof, supported by beams running east- west, is visible in the classrooms. Tubular fluorescent light fixtures are suspended from the classroom ceilings. Alterations/ Integrity There have been moderate alterations to the school building and grounds since its construction in 1959. In 1965 and 1980, classrooms were added to the west wing of the building. The new wings were built to seamlessly connect with the original roof and corridor configuration. In 1966, the building was extended to the south to provide additional classroom space. In 1990 a computer center was added to the south side of the building as well as a library to the north elevation. Despite the numerous alterations, the building retains its integrity with interior finishes, cantilevered entry, gable roof, and central circulation spine intact. Statement of Significance Built in 1959, Humboldt School was constructed during a period of modernization and new construction initiated by Portland Public Schools ( PPS) after World War II. In 1945, the citizens of Portland approved a ballot measure that provided $ 5,000,000 over five years to construct, improve, and rehabilitate its public school buildings ( Portland Public Schools 1945: 2). The ballot measure enabled PPS to respond to the explosive growth in school- age children that had occurred in the city as a result of the arrival of defense plant workers and their families, as well as the deferred maintenance arising from the lack of funds during the depression ( Portland Public Schools 1945: 2- 3). Beginning with this initial bond measure, PPS embarked on an effort to improve its school facilities through renovations, additions, and the new construction of over fifty schools between 1945 and 1970. For the new building program, PPS schools adopted the call of architects and school planners across the country for new types of schools. Nationally known architects including Richard Neutra, the Walter Gropius led Architects Collective, and the Perkins Will architectural firm promoted new school types that reflected both evolving educational practices and design philosophies ( Ogata 2008: 567- 568; Perkins and Cocking 1949: 238- 246). Emphasizing the need for economy and rapid construction, the designers adopted new materials that were standardized and mass produced including steel, plywood, glass block, and aluminum. In many buildings, architects achieved flexibility through the building’s structure by employing non load- bearing partition walls and zoned ventilation and heating systems. Folding walls and moveable cabinets provided additional flexibility intended to enable teachers to rearrange rooms based on lesson plan and activities ( Ogata 2008: 568). In response to the growing population of North Portland, the district acquired land on N. Gantenbein Street for $ 95,135.00. Named for the adjacent street, the district employed the relatively unknown architects Max Williams and Robert Martin to design the $ 287,790.54 facility ( Snyder; Portland Chronology Binder). Classrooms were added to the west wing of the building in 1965 and again in 1980. The new wings were built to seamlessly connect with the original roof and corridor configuration. In 1966, the building was extended to the south to provide additional classrooms. In 1990 the computer center was added to the south side of the building. At this time the library was added to the north elevation ( Humboldt Facility Profile). Printed on: 10/ 14/ 2009 Page 2 of 3 Oregon Historic Site Form Humboldt School 4915 Gantenbein Ave Portland, Multnomah County RESEARCH INFORMATION Title Records Sanborn Maps Obituaries City Directories Census Records Biographical Sources Newspapers Building Permits Property Tax Records SHPO Files State Archives State Library Local Histories Interviews Historic Photographs Local Library: Multnomah County Library University Library: Portland State University Library Historical Society: Oregon Historical Society Other Repository: PPS Archives Bibliography: Bibliography McMath, George. “ A Regional Style Comes to the City.” In Space, Style and Structure: Buildings in Northwest America. Ed. Thomas Vaughan, 467- 499. Portland: Oregon Historical Society, 1974. Ogata, Amy F. “ Building for Learning in Postwar American Elementary Schools.” Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, Vol. 67, no. 4, December 2008: 562- 591. Perkins, Lawrence B and Walter D. Cocking. Schools. New York: Reinhold Publishing Corporation, 1949. Portland Public Schools. Repairing, Rehabilitating and Modernizing the School Plant. Portland: Portland Public Schools. Office of the Superintendent, 1945. ________. Portland Public Schools Chronology Binder. _______. Humboldt Elementary School. Facility Plan. _______. Humboldt Elementary School. Facility Profile. Ritz, Richard. E. Architects of Oregon. A Biographical Dictionary of Architects Deceased – 19th and 20th Centuries. Portland: Lair Hill Publishing, 2003. Sanborn Map Company 1924- 1928, 1908- Dec. 1950 Sanborn Maps, Multnomah County Public Library, Portland, Oregon. Available at: https:// catalog. multcolib. org/ validate? url= http% 3A% 2F% 2F0- sanborn. umi. com. catalog. multcolib. org% 3A80% 2F. Accessed June 16, 2009. Snyder, Eugene E. Portland Names and Neighborhoods. Their Historic Origins. Portland: Binforrd & Mort Publishing; 1st edition 1979. ( Check all of the basic sources consulted and cite specific important sources) Although Humboldt Elementary School retains its integrity with its floor plan and many exterior and interior finishes intact, it is not recommended as eligible for the NRHP. The school was built during the PPS program of post- war construction but archival research does not indicate that it influenced the design of other schools buildings, the curriculum, or future planning for the schools, therefore, it is not eligible for the NRHP under Criterion A. The architects Max Williams and Robert Martin were not well known designers in the city of Portland. In comparison with other schools built in Portland during the post war period, the plan, utilization of materials, and massing is a simpler and not as strong an example of the finger plan type school, therefore Humboldt Elementary School is not eligible for the NRHP under Criterion C. Printed on: 10/ 14/ 2009 Page 3 of 3 East elevation facing west East elevation facing northwest South elevation North elevation facing west South elevation facing northwest Humboldt School Exterior Photos ENTRIX 2009 Corridor facing west Gymnasium facing north Classroom built- in facing west Classroom facing east Library reading nook facing north Humboldt School Interior Photos ENTRIX 2009 Humboldt School 4915 N Gantenbein Ave, Portland OR, 97217 Building Periods 1. Original Building ( 164A), 1959 2. Addition ( 164A), 1966 3. Bldg ( 164B), 1966 4. Bldg ( 164D), 1977 5. Addition ( 164A), 1980 6. Bldg ( 164C), 1987 7. Addition ( 164A), 1990 Aerial photo © 2009 Metro, Portland OR Imagery Date: July 12, 2007 N Gantenbein Ave N Commercial Ave N Alberta St 2009 photograph of the front entrance to the Humboldt School. View Site in Google Maps Historical Significance and Building Integrity Contrib: High Significance Contrib: Moderate Signif. Non- Contributing 0’ 50’ 100’ 200’ N sandy Blvd Lombard st powell Blvd 82nd ave MLK jr b lvd 1 2 3 4 5 5 6 7 7
- Subject
- Work Type
- Location
- Identifier
- OR_Multnomah_Portland_Humboldt.pdf
- Provenance
- University of Oregon Libraries
- Citation
- PPS Historic Building Assessment 2009
- Institution
- Submission Date
- 05/04/2015
- Modified
- 07/30/2022
- Collections
- Building Oregon (open)
APA
Building Oregon, University of Oregon. (08 May 2025). Humboldt School (Portland, Oregon) Retrieved from https://oregondigital.org/concern/documents/df67rn71k
MLA
Building Oregon, University of Oregon. "Humboldt School (Portland, Oregon)" Oregon Digital. 08 May 2025. https://oregondigital.org/concern/documents/df67rn71k
Chicago
Building Oregon, University of Oregon. "Humboldt School (Portland, Oregon)" Oregon Digital. Accessed 2025-05-08. https://oregondigital.org/concern/documents/df67rn71k
Wiki
{{cite web | url= https://oregondigital.org/concern/documents/df67rn71k | title= Humboldt School (Portland, Oregon) |author= |accessdate= 2025-05-08 |publisher= }}
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