Bennett Gymnasium

(1930 - present)

Bennett Gymnasium is shown in this Homecoming 1938 photo, courtesy of ACU Creative Services.

Bennett Gymnasium was named in honor of L. P. and Ruth Bennett of Denver City, Texas for their gift of 1,280 acres of land. L. P. Bennett served as a member of the Board of Trustees from 1941 to 1956.

Design and Construction

The building was designed by Nichol & Campbell. It was last of the original buildings to be started and completed. W. N. Hollis served as foreman for construction of this building for $10.50 per day. Until the building was finished, the basketball team practiced and played its games in the A Club Gymnasium on the original campus.

Ground was broken the first of July, 1929 and construction began that week. Due to lack of funds, construction was stopped as some point until the Bennett family gift was received. On November 21, 1929 work resumed. On Monday, February 14, 1930, the construction crew began raising the five 4,280 pound roof trusses.

In an article in the Thursday, April 24, 1930 issue of The Optimist, it stated "... Bennett Gymnasium is practically completed, lacking only the staining of the floors and a few minor jobs. All concrete and brick work was finished more than a week ago, and the hardwood floor has been laid the past week."

Construction was completed on Friday, May 16, 1930, and the formal dedication ceremonies took place on Wednesday, May 20, 1930 during Chapel. The first game in the gymnasium was the same day at 4 p.m. when the seniors played the faculty in volleyball.

Floor Plans

The gymnasium included:

First Floor

The gymnasium floor was surrounded on three sides by concrete bleachers.

Under the Bleachers

Locker area and dressing rooms
Restrooms and shower rooms
Athletic offices.

The roof trusses were raised in February 1930. Photo courtesy of the Prickly Pear.

Bennett Gymnasium nears
completion with doors and
windows not yet installed. Trees and grass were painted into this photograph. Photo courtesy of the Prickly Pear.

This 1938 basketball game
was played in Bennett
Gymnasium.Photo courtesy
of the Prickly Pear.

The locker room was located
under the bleachers. Photo
courtesy of ACU Creative
Services.

First Floor Plan of Bennett Gymnasium
First Floor Plan

Under the Bleachers Floor Plan

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 no longer exist. If you can help improve them, visit the How You Can Help page.

Next: The Chemistry Building >>>