Since 1927, McArthur Court has hosted some of the most spirited college fans in recent history. Thanks to the dedicated and raucous nature of the Oregon faithful, players and visitors alike will remember “The Pit” as a daunting force of basketball fanfare.
The basketball and volleyball legacies will continue in Oregon’s newly completed athletic project, Matthew Knight Arena, yet the future of Mac Court remains in question. Will the storied stadium solely exist in memory, or can the University find an alternative use for the historic landmark?
The School of Architecture and Allied Arts is a major contender for adopting the stadium as its main academic facility. Its need for a new building stems in part from the overly dispersed layout of the department throughout the University campus. Lawrence Hall represents the main building for AAA, yet the many other locations dedicated to the Allied Arts indicate a need for a more centralized area for shared learning. There are around 13 to 15 buildings spread throughout the University, some located north of campus across Franklin Boulevard and some in Hendricks Hall.
“I think the idea is that it’s Architecture and Allied Arts, and by being in different units and buildings, the creative work that goes on is not allowed to be interdisciplinary,” explained Chris Ramey, associate vice president of Campus Planning and Real Estate.
By putting everything under one roof, the many different subjects that make up the allied arts (landscape architecture, art history, historic preservation, etc.) will be equally represented within the department, allowing shared learning and cooperation within the school.
Aside from providing the school with a centralized location for interdisciplinary learning, renovating Mac Court would be beneficial both financially and environmentally.
“It’s cheaper to renovate the building for a good fit than it is to tear it down and start over,” Ramey said. “And then secondarily, they are reusing all of the materials that are in the building, which is a better environmental solution.”
Although these benefits hold much weight in determining the future of the stadium, the most obvious advantage, at least for students, would be preserving the cultural history of Oregon athletics.
“I don’t want to see Mac Court go,” University sophomore Justin Pratt said. “With all the memories I have there, I hope that it remains here on campus.”
Although the AAA department is still assessing its options for a new location, the idea of renovating the arena in such a way as to fit the needs of the school seems to be one of the most interesting.
“We are well regarded as a sustainable architecture school,” sophomore architecture major Andrew Westling said. “If we practice what we preach by reusing Mac Court, which is a well-known building on campus that means a lot to people, I think that’s a good thing.”
The final decision regarding the future of “The Pit” hinges upon where AAA would like to go next. Another location being considered for a new building is the area just west of Prince Lucien Campbell Hall, which is now used as a parking lot. Yet, regardless of what is decided, it is safe to say that Mac Court will forever remain in the memory of the faithful fans that have occupied the arena for the better part of a century.
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