Seattle Pacific University’s Otto Miller Hall
In the late 1800s, the citizens of the ever-expanding city of Seattle were in need of a more efficient way for inter-city travel. In 1889, just five years after the implementation horse-drawn carriages, a sprawling and interconnected system of streetcars was built as a better solution to this issue (Crowley, HistoryLink.org). However, in a little over 20 years, streetcars began to became obsolete with the advent and widespread use of automobiles. As such, many barns used to hold these trolleys fell into disuse, though, at least one of these buildings did manage to find a future. One certain trolley barn, after some renovations, would become Seattle Pacific University’s own innovative center for the sciences; Otto Miller Hall.
Now, before delving much into the building’s specifics, it’s important to understand that the project to transform it into a center for science and learning was ambitious; 3 million dollars worth of ambition. The creation of the Otto M. Miller Science Learning Center (as it was previously known) was the result of a host of generous contributions from “more than one-hundred businesses” both corporations and foundations, “plus more than 1,300 individuals and couples” (McNichols, 174). Some of the largest contributions came from the Murdock Trust in December of 1975 consisting of $600,000, and an anonymous contribution in June of 1974 of $500,000, among some others. These larger contributions, amidst the thousands of other smaller ones, helped to bring the project to life.
The former trolley barn had gone through a lot of renovations and changes before being acquired by Seattle Pacific University (then Seattle Pacific College) on November 9, 1973. It was formerly used for the timber and manufacturing businesses, and was most recently known as the ArcWeld Manufacturing Company prior to its acquisition by the university. As part of a bankruptcy sale, the building was bought for $321,000 and, as previously stated, the ambitious remodels for its 52,000 square feet were estimated to cost around 3 million dollars. The plan called for a rather economical use of resources while simultaneously creating a flexible and long-lived science-teaching facility. This facility was not only to be a center for learning, but also an innovative demonstration of energy efficiency and a place for the spreading of ideas.
The building’s resourcefulness and innovation are attributed to a few factors. Firstly, the structure’s cost was only about half of what it should have been due to efficient use of recycled material on both the exterior materials and the interior. Secondly, the building has an array of alternate energy options available to power it, so rather than it being a large energy-guzzling structure, it actually is extremely environmentally efficient.
Evidently, efficiency was a top priority for the Otto M. Miller Science Learning Center, and this is illustrated within its design. An efficiency-monitoring computer is built within the building, and it decides what energy sources to tap into in order to be most efficient on a given day, whether that be conventional energy, combustion of campus refuse, solar power through its rooftop panels, or wind power through its windmills. There is even a pump system that can siphon water out of the Washington Ship Canal and extract its natural heat, then return the water to the canal, albeit a bit cooler. In regards to the buildings rooms, some of the laboratories are flexible, being mobile and able to be “unplugged from their campus base and sent out for field studies” (Herb Robinson, The Seattle Times). These innovations interested potential donors to a great extent, helping the school to raise funds for its creation.
Despite the financial contributions of these thousands of donors, however, the Otto M. Miller Science Learning Center was not named for any of them. Instead, it was named in tribute to a beloved and reputable professor of physics on the Seattle Pacific campus, Dr. Otto M. Miller. Miller originally came to Seattle Pacific in 1937, serving as Associate Professor of Physics and Dean of the College. His position was elevated to that of Vice President in 1944, though he continued to teach until his retirement in 1966 and he was awarded the Doctor of Science degree before becoming Vice President Emeritus. According to SPU’s centennial archival book, A Growing Vision, not only was Miller’s passion for science great, but so was his passion for the individual. He cared about every student of faculty member he met, held genuine interest in everybody, and was also said to be a great spiritual influence.
Otto Miller Hall, as the building is now known, is a place for learning and education throughout the sciences (the dry ones, that is). All manner of classes from physics to programming are studied within its walls, and the efficient technology upon which is was founded echo these professions. To the student body of Seattle Pacific University, its resources certainly do not go unappreciated. Otto Miller Hall is a blessing to thousands of students each year, and stands out as an important and innovative part of SPU’s educational curriculum and history.
Works Cited:
Crowley, Walt. “Seattle Transportation: From Trolleys to Monorails, A Timeline”. HistoryLink.org, 31 Oct. 2002, Web. http://www.historylink.org/File/4005.
McNichols, Donald. Seattle Pacific University: A Growing Vision. Seattle, Wash. : The University, 1989. Print.
Robinson, Herb. “Innovations in new S.P.C. building may set precedent”. The Seattle Times, 22 May 1974, p. A13. Web.
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