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TIFFANY HALL MAY no longer be a visible part of the Seattle Pacific University campus, but a new program will ensure that its legacy endures. The venture aims to link elements of the University's past, present and future with one common thread: bricks from Tiffany's original 1909 structure.

As a scholarship fund-raiser, alumni are invited to purchase and inscribe a brick from the former Tiffany Hall. Also available is a limited edition print of a painting of Tiffany by Byron Birdsall ‘59.

The Tiffany Legacy Memorial Brick Project begins in September and will give SPU alumni, friends and members of the community the opportunity to leave their mark by purchasing a brick salvaged from Tiffany's structure. The bricks will then be inscribed with sponsors' personal messages and embedded into the entryway of the new science building currently under construction.

"I'm very pleased that we will be incorporating the legacy of Tiffany Hall into the life of the new facility," says Alumni Director Doug Taylor. "And since the funds raised from this project will go directly to student scholarships, it's doubly exciting."

Tiffany Hall, a well-loved campus icon, had stood for nearly a century when it was demolished last September. The building suffered severe structural problems exacerbated by earthquake damage in March 2001 and was leveled, along with neighboring Green Hall, to make room for the new 63,000-square-foot science building. Named for Grace English Tiffany, dean of women and wife of SPC President Orrin Tiffany, the hall served many purposes over the years and found its way into the hearts and memories of countless Seattle Pacific alumni.

Functioning as a cafeteria and women's dormitory, and later as offices for the humanities faculty, Tiffany Hall also housed security, mailing and printing headquarters. The building is an integral part of SPU's history, says Kathy Hitchcock, associate director of alumni relations. "Our alumni have all sorts of special memories of Tiffany Hall. You can see why the bricks project draws so much interest," she says, adding that some people have already requested bricks even though the project has yet to be officially launched.

Alaska resident Marj Oines is one of those people. After reading a mention of the program's development in Response, she immediately thought of her mother, Sylvie Oines, who lived in Tiffany Hall for four years before graduating from Seattle Pacific College in 1939. "My mom lived on the third floor of Tiffany Hall and had a window facing the canal — this was a very special time for her," says Oines. "I just think this project is such a good idea. It's a perfect present for mom's birthday."

The bricks — believed to be "Denny bricks" extracted from Seattle's Denny Way in the early 20th century — were in such good condition that salvaging them seemed a logical choice, says Taylor. The idea grew from there, and a proposal was developed to sell the bricks as a fund-raiser for student scholarships. The project will see its first installment of inscribed bricks in January of 2003 during a commemorating ceremony slated for that month.

The bricks range in price from $100 to $250, depending on the number of characters inscribed. Larger-sized pavers are also available for $500. Though not originating from Tiffany Hall, the pavers allow for a larger imprint area, with space for the Seattle Pacific torch logo, and will complete the look of the walkway. A certificate of purchase will be mailed to sponsors, and a photo of each engraved brick or paver will be placed on the SPU alumni Web site.

As a special package, the Alumni Center is also offering prints of Byron Birdsall's watercolor painting of Tiffany Hall for an additional $50 with the purchase of a brick or paver. These are limited edition prints that can also be purchased separately for $85. Birdsall '59, a pre-eminent Alaskan watercolorist — and the only Seattle Pacific alum whose artwork appears on a U.S. postage stamp — was commissioned to create the last painting of Tiffany Hall before its destruction.

"The Tiffany bricks project is a way that we can remember our past and leave something of significance for the future," says Taylor. "I hope alumni will take advantage of this opportunity."

A brochure about the Tiffany Legacy Memorial Brick Project will be mailed to all alumni soon. For more information, call 206/281-ALUM or visit www.spu.edu/alumni.

— BY SARAH JIO

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