Name: Salem Civic Center, Vern Miller Civic Center
Address: 555 Liberty Northeast
City: Salem
Year of Construction: 1972
Architect: Payne, Settecase and Smith, with Donald Richardson
Original Use: Government
Status: In Use
National Register of Historic Places: Not Listed
Description:
In 1968, Salem voters approved the construction of a Civic Center to be the new home of the city government. Salem was growing: the population increased from 4,000 in the 1900s to roughly 48,000 in the late 1960s. Housing, infrastructure and public facilities were needed to accommodate incoming residents. Urban renewal plans targeted the southern edge of downtown Salem for redevelopment projects. As a result, a 12-acre area located south of Pringle Creek was selected to build the new complex.
Construction started in May 1970 during the mayorship of Dr. Vern W. Miller, whom the complex was named after. Designed by architectural firm Payne, Settecase and Smith, in association with architects Donald Richardson and Charles Hawks, the Salem Civic Center consists of three main buildings in a park-like environment: a fire station, the city hall, and a public library. The Civic Center is considered a prime example of 1970s civic architecture in Oregon.
Salem City Hall
The Salem City Hall is located on the north side of the Civic Center. Inaugurated on July 6, 1972, the Brutalist-style building consists of a three-level structure supported by concrete columns and exposed concrete waffle slabs. Its u-shaped plan encloses a central courtyard, which is covered with a plexiglass dome to protect visitors from the rain. In addition, the courtyard features concrete planters and benches, and two staircases that lead to the upper levels of the building. Interior spaces include movable partition walls, designed to make remodeling easier and more affordable, as well as paneled lighting.
On the second level, two walkways connect the city hall with the Chambers for the Salem City Council, an elevated, semi-detached building. On the first level, the courtyard extends to the north through a walkway that becomes an open-air plaza, connecting the building with the street level. A central staircase from the plaza provides access to the Mirror Pond, a public landscape garden.
Salem Public Library
Inaugurated on August 18, 1972, the Salem’s Central Public Library stands on the south side of the Civic Center campus. Similar to the City Hall, the three-story building was designed in a Brutalist style, with reinforced concrete columns and walls, precast sills, and glazing. The library has undergone several modifications since its construction. This first change occurred in 1990, with a 38,100 square-foot expansion to add an auditorium and parking garage to the facility. Other minor improvements took place between 1996 and 2010.
The Public Library is once again under renovation. Seismic evaluations performed in 2013 revealed that the building originally conformed to 1970s codes but does not meet current safety standards. As a result, Salem voters approved a bond in 2017 to carry out seismic and accessibility upgrades in the building. The design team, led by Howard S. Wright Construction and the firm Hacker Architects, incorporated public input into the planning and design process. Works started in early 2020 and will be completed in the summer of 2021.
Peace Plaza
Since 1988, Peace Plaza has been a public space that connects the City Hall and the Library building. The site was designed and constructed to provide a welcoming and reflective place in the Civic Center campus, as well as foster peace in the community through awareness-raising activities. On the western side of the plaza, a wall panel displays peace quotes and urban artwork. In the center, Peace Plaza features “Crescent Probe”, a stainless-steel fountain sculpture by artist James Lee Hansen.
Further Information
• Salem Civic Center Virtual Walking Tour
References
“Evaluation Report. City of Salem Central Public Library.” City of Salem . Last modified February 14, 2014. Accessed September 20, 2020. https://www.cityofsalem.net/CityDocuments/Salem%20Library%20Evaluation%20Report.pdf.
“Library Renovation Community Open House Presentation.” City of Salem. Last modified April 30, 2019. Accessed September 20, 2020. https://www.cityofsalem.net/CityDocuments/library-renovation-community-presentation-2019-04-30.pdf.
“Salem Public Library Seismic and Safety Upgrade Project.” City of Salem . Accessed September 20, 2020. https://www.cityofsalem.net/Pages/salem-public-library-seismic-and-safety-upgrade-project.aspx.
Fuller, Leah, and Linda Zimmer. “Salem Civic Center – Interior Architecture.” City of Salem. Last modified , 2010. Accessed September 19, 2020. https://www.cityofsalem.net/CityDocuments/sci-salem-civic-center-interior-architecture-report-2010.pdf.
Oregonian (Portland, Oregon), December 10, 1970: 78. Readex: America’s Historical Newspapers. https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.lib.pdx.edu/apps/readex/doc?p=EANX&docref=image/v2%3A11A73E5827618330%40EANX-13035E4391BE2876%402440931-1303564C597E7879%4077-1303564C597E7879%40.
Oregonian (Portland, Oregon), May 6, 1971: 19. Readex: America’s Historical Newspapers. https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.lib.pdx.edu/apps/readex/doc?p=EANX&docref=image/v2%3A11A73E5827618330%40EANX-13063B21867D2566%402441078-1305A39B6AE55862%4018-1305A39B6AE55862%40.
Oregonian (Portland, Oregon), May 7, 1971: 43. Readex: America’s Historical Newspapers. https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.lib.pdx.edu/apps/readex/doc?p=EANX&docref=image/v2%3A11A73E5827618330%40EANX-13063B229CC1467C%402441079-1305A39C9F1A993B%4042-1305A39C9F1A993B%40.
Oregonian (Portland, Oregon), June 14, 1972: 68. Readex: America’s Historical Newspapers. https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.lib.pdx.edu/apps/readex/doc?p=EANX&docref=image/v2%3A11A73E5827618330%40EANX-130A3E47E44EF044%402441483-130A3C35CBAFD622%4067-130A3C35CBAFD622%40.
Peace Plaza Salem . Accessed September 22, 2020. https://www.peaceplazasalem.org/.
West, Robert D. “Salem Government #34 (Continued): Vern W. Miller Civic Center – Peace Plaza.” Places. January 7, 2015. Accessed September 22, 2020. http://placespages.blogspot.com/2015/01/salem-government-34-continued-vern-w_7.html
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