The Knights of Columbus inaugurated the building as its Portland lodge on October 21, 1920.[4] It was designed by the Portland architectural firm of Jacobberger & Smith. By 1937, the Knights organization had moved out.[5] In July 1937, the building was purchased by the Aero Club of Oregon (the Portland chapter of the National Aeronautics Association),[5] who at the time were using a nearby building.[6] The building underwent a remodeling in fall 1937, using plans designed by Portland-based Whitehouse & Church, the partnership of Morris H. Whitehouse and Walter E. Church.[7]