The Oregon Coast has a special history of art deco style due to the six major bridges built by Conde B. McCullough in the late 1930s. These bridges did more than open the door to modern transportation, they left a unique art deco legacy on the coast.

The Art Deco design of the bridges and the new highway-oriented culture affected new construction in places like Newport’s City Center business district. This resulted in a distinct pocket of art deco style, one with its own unique history and culture.

As City Center prospered and new structures were built, many business owners had a desire to project the same modern, progressive image. They adopted the contemporary style of the late 30s, what we now call the ‘steamline moderne’ phase of Art Deco. Some structures have survived, many more have changed or are hidden by late century ‘upgrades.’

Highway 101 at Alder in 1938

Since 2006, the non profit City Center Newport Association has provided education and design assistance toward the preservation and revival of Newport’s unique art deco heritage. To date, CCNA has donated over $50,000 worth of in-kind design services within the district. Most have yet to be implemented. The three profiled here are examples of the vision for a revitalized Art Deco hertiage district.

Originally built in 1925, the "old" City Hall had been vacant for five years when the Pig 'N Pancake restaurant began major renovation of the interior in 2007.
As part of the ongoing effort to revitalize the Deco District, CCNA donated art deco consulting, design ideas, and tone on tone paint schemes for the building's exterior. Because the budget did not allow for replacement of the existing 1980's coating of synthetic stucco, changes in the color and/or design addition options were limited.
A design featuring a whimsical deco variation of the company's logo was also donated and added as a mural on both sides of the building. The building now helps to form an epicenter of revived art deco style structures at Alder St. and Coast Highway 101.

Originally built in 1936 as the Bank of Newport, the building on the SE corner of Hwy 101 and Alder now serves as the Lincoln County School District Administration offices. In 2007, the late centrury windows leaked badly and needed replacement.
As part of the ongoing effort to revitalize the Deco District, CCNA donated art deco consulting, window and design ideas, plus color coordinated paint schemes for the building's exterior.

Because the budget did not allow for any changes in the facade design, the scope of the work was for windows and paint.
CCNA developed conceptual plans for the project and worked with LCSD staff through completion. The paint palette was based on the existing terracotta colored tiles that form the base of the facade. The complimentary tone on tones are capped with a bold accent rim.

The new windows were designed to be all horizontal panes, to give the building a streamline look down the West side. The window manufacturer had other ideas. They split the middle panes in two - to allow them to open and close. This resulted in a less than aesthetic pattern (shown at left.) ** Apparently the secret of how window makers in the 30s made long horizontal panes function must have been lost in time. ** The solution was to add inexpensive false mullions to the top and bottom panes of the top bank to create a symmetrical design pattern. The building now helps to form an epicenter of revived art deco style structures at Alder St. and Coast Highway 101.

Originally built in 1936 as the Midway Theater, and at the same time as the Bank of Newport, the building at 453 SW Coast Hwy 101 now houses a ministry and private residence.

In 1997, the building was saved from decades of neglect and by 2006 it had survived, but was bathed in an aesthetically lacking monochrome.
As part of the ongoing effort to revitalize the Deco District, CCNA donated art deco consulting, design ideas, plus color coordinated paint schemes for the building's exterior.

The paint palette was based on the existing ocean inspired color, adding a tone on tone base and bold accent trim. CCNA donated the mural design to help balance the facade and provide a period style point of interest.

The building now helps to form an epicenter of revived art deco style structures at Alder St. and Coast Highway 101.

Archival photos courtesy of the Lincoln County Historical Society.