News & Events

May: Old School Renovation "Dream Come True" for Oregon Architect

Trillium Family Services has selected Corvallis based architect, William “Bill” Ryals and his firm, Modern Organic Architecture to spearhead renovations of the Old School building on the Children’s Farm Home campus. Ryals, an Oregon native with family ties in the area going back to the 1850s, studied architecture at the University of Oregon.  Later, he practiced in San Francisco and in Portland at Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership before starting his own firm in the mid-Willamette Valley.  Ryals’ work focuses on green architecture, specifically LEED certified projects such as the new Element Spa Building in downtown Corvallis which will be one of the first LEED Silver certified buildings in the state.  Other projects include the Willamette Credit Union World Headquarters, multiple historic renovations at Corban College, and the Dentzel American Carousel Museum.

The Old School building was built in 1925 by the Women’s Christian Temperance Union as part of the Children’s Farm Home campus which housed orphaned children through the early and mid part of the century. Today, the Trillium Farm Home is a cutting-edge facility for children suffering from mental and behavioral disorders.  The renovated building will be used for administrative and office space for programs based in the Willamette Valley serving children and young people state-wide.  The renovations were made possible by a $2 million dollar lead gift by Dave and Penny Lowther. 

The project has an emotional appeal to Ryals, “I have two young children and can’t drive past the Farm Home without feeling a tug in my heart.” Ryals’ excitement is palpable as he describes his passion for history and his commitment to the community. “I can’t believe how much community ownership there is of this building. Every person I’ve talked to is excited about the project. It is truly a gateway to North Corvallis and a landmark that stands out in everyone’s mind. I see this partnership as a great opportunity to save a historic building and also a wonderful opportunity to link the community to the Farm Home.”

Exterior repairs will begin Summer 2007 and will include stabilization of the roof and cupola.  Interior work is expected to begin Spring 2008. Many of the unique and original characteristics of the building still exist says Ryals including trims, moldings, and fixtures.  Part of the renovation process includes application to the National Register of Historic Places.  Local general contractor selection is currently underway as well.
 
The Trillium Children’s Farm Home Capital Campaign also includes renovations of the current kitchen and dining facilities as well as construction of the new Children’s Sub-Acute facility which will serve the most acutely affected children from across the state who suffer from disorders such as bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression.

To Ryals, the most fascinating part of the renovation will be to learn the stories that such a historic building has to tell and to experience the enthusiasm that such an important renovation will generate in the community. “I can’t wait until the boards come off of the windows and the building starts to come back to life. I feel incredibly fortunate.”

back to top

March: Renovation of Corvallis Landmark Begins

After sitting idle and boarded up for over 25 years, a local landmark will undergo a complete renovation.

The Old School, part of Trillium Children’s Farm Home, will be converted into office, classroom, and meeting space. The building was originally constructed as a school for children living at the Farm Home which was founded by the Women’s Christian Temperance Union in 1925.

Trillium Family Services, which operates the Corvallis Farm Home campus, provides children’s mental health care programs and services throughout Oregon. The organization made the progressive decision to renovate rather than raze the structure, thereby preserving the historic resource, sustaining the building’s future, and contributing to the cultural significance of the community.

Renovation has begun with the selection of Gary Feuerstein as project manager. Feuerstein will bring his considerable experience of renovating commercial and historic buildings to the project.

Feuerstein has initiated architect selection from a pool of local applicants, and he will see the project through to completion in 2008. The renovation will preserve the character of the Georgian Colonial building, which is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

A recent $2 million donation from Dave and Penny Lowther has allowed for renovation to begin. Initial renovation costs are expected to be $3.4 million. 

back to top

January: Trillium Receives $2 Million Donation to Renovate Old School

Trillium Family Services has received a $2 million donation that will jumpstart renovations of the Old School on the Trillium Children's Farm Home campus in Corvallis.

The donation, from Dave and Penny Lowther of Philomath, is the second-largest gift in the agency's 130-year history. The donation also serves as the lead gift in a fund-raising campaign to improve facilities on the campus and build a new residential treatment center for teen-agers suffering with mental illness who formerly were relegated to the Oregon State Hospital.

"This is a significant statement made on behalf of children who suffer with mental health disorders," says Kim Scott, Trillium president and CEO. "This gift obviously benefits our agency. More importantly, it benefits children and families."

Trillium Family Services is a nonprofit agency that provides children's mental health care programs and services. The agency has operations in the Mid-Willamette Valley, Portland Metro, and Central Oregon regions. The Trillium Children's Farm Home is home to Trillium's psychiatric residential treatment programs for the Mid-Willamette Valley and for children statewide.

Trillium also offers outpatient therapy, therapeutic foster care and child mentoring programs across the Mid-Willamette Valley, including Marion, Lane, Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties.

The Old School, built in 1925, once was a bustling center of life for the campus, which was founded as an orphanage in 1922. The building saw some use through the 1980s, but in recent years it has sat idle and boarded up, a victim of age, modern building codes and a lack of funds to renovate it.

The historic gift from the Lowthers came about because of the family's long-time ties to the community and to the Trillium Farm Home. Penny, who as a volunteer helps organize the Trillium Farm Home archives, remembers passing the Old School in as a young girl during family drives to Albany.

To her and many other long-time residents, the Old School, which is the most visible icon on campus because it sits along Highway 20, always represented the Farm Home.
The Lowthers decided to support renovating the Old School because they wanted the historic building to again reflect the vibrant work that Trillium does with children suffering with mental health challenges.

"When you hear a story about a particular kid and you think there's no way they could get turned around," says Dave, who recently joined Trillium's Mid-Willamette Valley Board of Trustees. "And they do. They have some awfully good staff working with them.

"Maybe a renovated building ... people would drive by and see the Farm Home more. That they'd see it's a quality institution that does a lot for kids."

The Lowther's donation will allow Trillium to either renovate the Old School or rebuild it to reflect the original Georgian architecture. The building will become badly needed office space, freeing room elsewhere on campus for clinical uses.

The new building will be named to honor Dave's mother, Hazel V. Lowther, an ardent supporter of local children's causes who died in August.

"There's always a need for more," says Dave, who hopes his family's donation motivates others to give. "There's always a number of kids who need help, and as the population grows that number will keep growing."

Trillium's overall goal is to raise about $10 million to $15 million for improvements at the Corvallis campus. The agency completed work on renovations to two residential cottages, a new school and new playground in 2004-05. Construction could begin as early as this spring on improvements to the cafeteria and gymnasium and a new covered play area.

The capital campaign's crown jewel will be a new psychiatric treatment center designed specifically for teen-agers who were once served at the decrepit Oregon State Hospital in Salem. The state closed its psychiatric program for adolescents in 2005 and transferred the program to Trillium's Corvallis campus.

About Trillium
Trillium Family Services, a nonprofit organization, provides the highest quality diagnosis and treatment of mental and behavioral health challenges for young people in Oregon. Working collaboratively with young people, their families and their communities, we support better outcomes for the more than 130,000 young people living with mental and behavioral health challenges each year.
           
Trillium offers programs and services in three regions — Portland Metro, Mid-Willamette Valley, and Central Oregon. Last year, Trillium served 7,000 children and families from 30 of Oregon’s 36 counties. www.trilliumfamily.org

back to top

Return to News & Events