Time Lapse: The Evolution of OHSU's Portland Campus

Since its first building opened more than a century ago, OHSU’s Portland campus has changed dramatically, expanding across Marquam Hill and the South Waterfront to make room for ever more learning, discovery and care. OHSU alumni have been there through it all. Their contributions, experiences and memories are all part of OHSU’s story.

Created in partnership with OHSU Historical Collections & Archives, this gallery looks back at the spaces where generations of OHSU alumni spent their student years.

A timelapse of aerial photos showing OHSU's Marquam Hill campus circa 1922, 1940, 1958, 1971, 1992, 2002, 2015 and 2026 — *OHSU’s changing campus, circa 1922, 1940, 1958, 1971, 1992, 2002, 2015 and 2026*

Alumni Fountain

The Alumni Fountain on Marquam Hill was a gift from the Alumni Association of the University of Oregon Medical School (now the OHSU School of Medicine). Installed in 1963, the three-ton, bronze fountain stands 5 feet high and 10 feet in diameter.

A black and white watercolor and ink sketch of a fountain in a courtyard surrounded by trees and buildings. — *Concept rendering of the Alumni Fountain, early 1960s*

A black and white photo of men watching as a crane lowers a piece of the Alumni Fountain into place. — *Alumni Fountain installation, 1963*

A black and white aerial view of the Alumni Fountain and the Mackenzie Hall lawn with Mt. Hood in the distance. — *Alumni Fountain, circa 1965*

A young man and two young women in business casual attire talking on the steps in front of the Alumni Fountain. — *OHSU School of Medicine students in front of the Alumni Fountain, 2023*

School of Medicine

Before its move to Marquam Hill, the University of Oregon Medical School (now the OHSU School of Medicine) operated out of a converted Victorian building in Northwest Portland. Built in 1919, Mackenzie Hall was the first campus building on Marquam Hill.

Today, students spend most of their time in the OHSU Roberston Life Sciences Building on the South Waterfront, while Mackenzie Hall houses School of Medicine academic and administrative offices.

A black and white photo of a Victorian building. — *University of Oregon Medical School, NW 23rd and Lovejoy, 1892*

A worn black and white photo of Mackenzie Hall. — *Medical Science Building (now Mackenzie Hall), Marquam Hill, 1921*

A young man in an argyle sweater sitting on a fountain bent over a book. — *Students studying in front of Mackenzie Hall, 1986*

Mackenzie Hall on a sunny day with pink flowers in the foreground. — *Mackenzie Hall, 2012*

*OHSU School of Medicine students crossing the street in front of the OHSU Robertson Life Sciences Building, 2023*

School of Nursing

When the long-awaited OHSU School of Nursing building opened in 1992, it united OHSU’s Portland nursing programs, faculty offices and classrooms under one roof for the first time in the school’s history.

The Portland campus is one of five OHSU School of Nursing campuses across Oregon, with regional campuses located in Ashland, Klamath Falls, La Grande and Monmouth.

*OHSU School of Nursing, Portland, 1992*

*Students on the steps of the OHSU School of Nursing, Portland, 1992*

*OHSU School of Nursing, Portland, 2019*

*Students on the steps of the OHSU School of Nursing, Portland, 2019*

School of Dentistry

In 1956, the University of Oregon Dental School (now the OHSU School of Dentistry) moved into its new building on Marquam Hill, where dental student trained for the next six decades.

The OHSU School of Dentistry moved to its current home in the OHSU Skourtes Tower on the South Waterfront in 2014. The state-of-the-art facility was made possible by generous philanthropic support led by OHSU alum Eugene Skourtes, D.M.D. ’68, and his wife Bonnie.

*North Pacific Dental College (later* *the University of Oregon Dental School) on NE 6th and Oregon Street, 1910*

*University of Oregon Dental School on Marquam Hill, 1957*

*Painted to look like a dinosaur for the kids next door at OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, a concrete pulverizer takes a bite out of the former OHSU School of Dentistry, 2018*

*OHSU’s new Vista Pavilion, dedicated to cancer care, stands on the footprint of the former OHSU School of Dentistry building on Marquam Hill, 2026*

*OHSU Robertson Life Sciences Building and Skourtes Tower, 2014*

*OHSU School of Dentistry student, circa 1980s*

*OHSU School of Dentistry students, 2024*

OHSU Tram

Constructed in 2006, the Portland Aerial Tram has become an iconic Portland landmark. The Tram connects the South Waterfront to Marquam Hill, carrying riders across the 3,300 feet that separates the two sides of OHSU’s campus in just four minutes.