[1] The University Unitarian Church won Paul Hayden Kirk the American Institute of Architects Award (1960).

[2] Unitarianism was brought to United States by the pilgrims and the puritans, with its origins found in the individualism and rational temper of those who settled Boston, Salem, and Plymouth.

[6] From 1927 to 1931 the Great Depression deeply affected the church's financial resources, requiring two ministers to come out of retirement to work without compensation.

[6] The 1940s are reflected upon as the 'golden age' of the church as a result of the end of great depression and general upbeat attitudes of the patrons during this time.

Although Paul H. Kirk was a follower of Mies's motto, "God is in the details", he made it clear that he was not a supporter of the international style.

[11] He also often incorporated large ceiling to floor windows in his residential designs because, with the Northwest's small diurnal temperature fluctuations, it could afford the heat loss in exchange for the feeling of openness.

"[15] Other typical architectural features in the neighborhood are brick veneer, hip roofs, asphalt shingles, planter boxes, small porches, stock wrought-iron railings, and one story houses.

[15] The design goal of the University Unitarian Church was to "be a place where people may gather for worship, where children may be taught to work and pray, and where the community is enriched by its presence.

[17] The west façade of the University Unitarian Church exposes its structure and adheres to straight lines, typical of Kirk's work.

Clerestory windows are hung by large bolted beams on the upper portion of the East Facade, allowing for natural light to enter the space.

This rule is a commonly accepted principle that for a building to be listed on the National Register for Historic Places, it must be at least fifty years old, that is, unless they are of 'significant importance.

[21] In the case of the University Unitarian Church, it has clear architectural significance, with its ties to the roots of Northwest regionalism.

In addition to this, climate, terrain, history and social attitudes from British Columbia to Portland, Oregon all contribute to define the Pacific Northwest style.