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Washington State University Buildings and Landscapes

Columbia Houses, 1947

Two-story, temporary buildings of frame construction. Both exterior and interior surfaces are of gypsum board. All three units heated from one central boiler. Each unit includes a community kitchen for light lunches and small lounge. There are 31 double rooms and quarters for one counselor in each unit. Used for housing married students and some staff members. Completion Date: September 1947. Cost: $300,000. Source of funds: State of Washington. Remarks: Cost included demounting, moving, site preparation, re-erection, and utility construction. The Federal Public Housing Authority donated the buildings. Floor space in each unit totals 17,840 square feet.

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1. Columbia House, 1951 This view is likely taken from Lower Drive, looking south, or south-southwest, back at the State College of Washington campus. The two-story complex in the center left is Columbia House, which was temporary student and faculty housing put in after World War II. Columbia House (the whole complex was generally referred to in the singular) only existed from 1946/1947 until 1954. Once torn down, a football practice field (Columbia field) was installed there and remained until Beasley Coliseum was built here in the 1970s. The adjacent single story buildings to the left are North Fairway student housing.
2. Columbia Houses, 1947 Two-story, temporary buildings of frame construction. Both exterior and interior surfaces are of gypsum board. All three units heated from one central boiler. Each unit includes a community kitchen for light lunches and small lounge. There are 31 double rooms and quarters for one counselor in each unit. Used for housing married students and some staff members. Completion Date: September 1947. Cost: $300,000. Source of funds: State of Washington. Remarks: Cost included demounting, moving, site preparation, re-erection, and utility construction. The Federal Public Housing Authority donated the buildings. Floor space in each unit totals 17,840 square feet.
Contents of this path:
1. Columbia House, 1951 This view is likely taken from Lower Drive, looking south, or south-southwest, back at the State College of Washington campus. The two-story complex in the center left is Columbia House, which was temporary student and faculty housing put in after World War II. Columbia House (the whole complex was generally referred to in the singular) only existed from 1946/1947 until 1954. Once torn down, a football practice field (Columbia field) was installed there and remained until Beasley Coliseum was built here in the 1970s. The adjacent single story buildings to the left are North Fairway student housing.
2. Columbia Houses, 1947 Two-story, temporary buildings of frame construction. Both exterior and interior surfaces are of gypsum board. All three units heated from one central boiler. Each unit includes a community kitchen for light lunches and small lounge. There are 31 double rooms and quarters for one counselor in each unit. Used for housing married students and some staff members. Completion Date: September 1947. Cost: $300,000. Source of funds: State of Washington. Remarks: Cost included demounting, moving, site preparation, re-erection, and utility construction. The Federal Public Housing Authority donated the buildings. Floor space in each unit totals 17,840 square feet.
3. Original Construction for Columbia House (Demolished)
4. Demolition of Columbia House (Demolished)