Design and Construction
The architects for the building were Nichol & Campbell. They originally designed this building in 1926-27 as a new administration building for the old campus. Instead of constructing this building on the old campus, the board decided to find a new campus.
The contract to build the Administration Building was let May 19, 1928 to H.M. Seby and work began immediately. The building was accepted from the contractor on July 31, 1928. It was erected at a cost of $84,017.
The exterior of the original section of the building remains as it was originally built with the exception of replacement doors. The original wood doors had half windows in them and were painted a dark brown. Above the front entrance was an arched window made with mirrors instead of glass (now a piece of plywood painted black). Originally, steps descended under the front porch with access to the ground floor.
The hallway floors were black and white terrazzo, and the classroom and offices had wood flooring. The interior woodwork was stained walnut, including the doors, wall base and shoe, chair rail and picture molding. The walls and ceilings were plastered and painted a light creme and light brown. The furnishings were all walnut or brown in color.
Floor Plans
The Administration Building originally contained:
- Ground Floor (now the first floor)
- Science laboratories for physics and biology
- Home economics food and clothing laboratories
- Extension office (for correspondence courses)
- Men's restroom
- First Floor (now the Second Floor)
- Offices for the president, dean, registrar, bursar and board of trustees
- Five classrooms
- Second Floor (now the Third Floor)
- Library stack and reading rooms
- Five classrooms
- Women's restroom
- Teachers' restroom
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In this photo, taken during the construction of the building, the front stairs can be seen on the right-hand side. Photo courtesy of the Prickly Pear.
The Administration building was built in 1928-29. Photo courtesy of ACU Creative Services.
As the Administration Building neared completion, the stairs to the ground floor under the front porch could be seen, circa 1929. Photo courtesy of the Prickly Pear.
This room, which housed the library reading room in 1930-31, is now a classroom, Room 317. Photo courtesy of the Prickly Pear.
This early 1930s home economics clothing laboratory is now the attorney's office. Photo courtesy of ACU Creative Services
This early 1930s home economics food laboratory is now the attorney's office, hallway and part of the ACU Credit Union Office. Photo courtesy of ACU Creative Services
The first floor lobby wall behind the students has been brought out into the hallway and is now the cashier's window. The photogragrh is from 1933-34. Photo courtesy of the Prickly Pear.
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These floor plans are in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. To view them, you must have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. These floor plans were created using photographs and physical examination of the building; the original architectural drawings do not exist. If you can help improve them, please see the How You Can Help page.
1931
During the summer of 1931 the library was enlarged by opening a doorway between the stack room and the business administration classroom north of it. The new room also became a stack room. The business administration classroom was moved downstairs.
1935
When the textbook rental department was created in September, it was located on the ground floor in an unknown location.
1936
After the fundraising campaign for the new Memorial Library building was cancelled, something still had to be done with the library. The second floor in the Administration Building was not built to hold the weight of the books. The plans for the basement of Chambers Hall were changed and the dining hall and kitchen were moved there. The library then moved during the summer to the first floor of Chambers Hall. The three rooms occupied by the library were turned into classrooms.
1938
By May 1, 1938, the Extension Office had moved upstairs into a classroom, as had the Bursar's Office. In November, a fire escape was added on the south side of the building at a cost of $325.40.
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