Alumni Hall (Miami University)
Encyclopedia
An iconic building on Miami University
’s Oxford campus, Alumni Library, also known as Alumni Hall, currently houses the university’s Department of Architecture and Interior Design and the Wertz Art and Architecture Library. This Lombardic Romanesque
building built in 1910 celebrated its centennial in 2010.
Corporation to build a new library on campus. On March 13, 1905 Andrew Carnegie offered the university a $40 000 grant if the university could match the amount with its own $40 000 towards the building. In 1908 the university finished raising the money and the building began. Frank Packard
from Columbus, Ohio
was hired as the architect and construction began in 1909. The building was inspired by Classical Roman architecture
and when it opened in 1910, it consisted of a main reading room for 192 people, a periodical room, a few classrooms, faculty rooms a multi-tier stacks for 150 000 volumes.
The next addition that came in 1951 where a West wing was added to the building thus making it once again symmetrical. Designed by Potter Tyler & Martin this addition was funded by the State of Ohio and added more stacks to the building.
At the completion of King Library, the university’s current main library, in 1972, the university’s Department of Architecture took residence in the building.
In 1997 Thomas H. Beeby was commissioned to do the most recent and extensive renovation of the building. What used to be the main stacks on the southern side of the building was turned into an atrium and a southern wing was added to the building.
Today the building houses the Department of Architecture and Interior Design studios, support spaces, offices and the Wertz Art and Architecture Library.
stands in the Alumni Hall rotunda. The statue was given to the university in 1920 by Samuel Spahr Laws, Miami Class of 1848.
Alumni Library is also attributed as the inspiration behind Marian Boyd Havighurst’s 1934 mystery novel, “Murder in the Stacks” and sequences from the film “Little Man Tate
,” directed and starring Jodie Foster
, were filmed within the rotunda for Alumni Library.
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
’s Oxford campus, Alumni Library, also known as Alumni Hall, currently houses the university’s Department of Architecture and Interior Design and the Wertz Art and Architecture Library. This Lombardic Romanesque
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
building built in 1910 celebrated its centennial in 2010.
History
The university, founded in 1809 housed its library in a room in Old Main, the main building on campus. As time passed and space ran out in old main the university sought a grant from the Andrew CarnegieAndrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish-American industrialist, businessman, and entrepreneur who led the enormous expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century...
Corporation to build a new library on campus. On March 13, 1905 Andrew Carnegie offered the university a $40 000 grant if the university could match the amount with its own $40 000 towards the building. In 1908 the university finished raising the money and the building began. Frank Packard
Frank Packard
Frank L. Packard was a prominent architect in Ohio.He designed the porch for the home of President Warren G. Harding in Marion, Ohio . Known as stick style architecture the house was designed by Harding and his wife and constructed in a neoclassical architecture style...
from Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
was hired as the architect and construction began in 1909. The building was inspired by Classical Roman architecture
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
and when it opened in 1910, it consisted of a main reading room for 192 people, a periodical room, a few classrooms, faculty rooms a multi-tier stacks for 150 000 volumes.
Building extensions
By the end of 1911 all the shelf space for the library was full and plans began for extensions to the building.1 In 1922 funding from the university and the Carnegie Corporation enable an Eastern wing designed by Ralph Ridley to be added to the existing building. This addition included a main reference room, reading room and more stacks.The next addition that came in 1951 where a West wing was added to the building thus making it once again symmetrical. Designed by Potter Tyler & Martin this addition was funded by the State of Ohio and added more stacks to the building.
At the completion of King Library, the university’s current main library, in 1972, the university’s Department of Architecture took residence in the building.
In 1997 Thomas H. Beeby was commissioned to do the most recent and extensive renovation of the building. What used to be the main stacks on the southern side of the building was turned into an atrium and a southern wing was added to the building.
Today the building houses the Department of Architecture and Interior Design studios, support spaces, offices and the Wertz Art and Architecture Library.
Miscellaneous
A bronze copy of Houdon's statue of George Washington located in the rotunda of the Virginia State CapitolVirginia State Capitol
The Virginia State Capitol is the seat of state government in the Commonwealth of Virginia, located in Richmond, the third capital of Virginia. It houses the oldest legislative body in the United States, the Virginia General Assembly...
stands in the Alumni Hall rotunda. The statue was given to the university in 1920 by Samuel Spahr Laws, Miami Class of 1848.
Alumni Library is also attributed as the inspiration behind Marian Boyd Havighurst’s 1934 mystery novel, “Murder in the Stacks” and sequences from the film “Little Man Tate
Little Man Tate
Little Man Tate is a 1991 motion picture drama directed by and starring Jodie Foster.It tells the story of Fred Tate, a 7-year-old child prodigy who struggles to self-actualize in a social and psychological construct that largely fails to accommodate his intelligence...
,” directed and starring Jodie Foster
Jodie Foster
Alicia Christian "Jodie" Foster is an American actress, film director, producer as well as a former child actress....
, were filmed within the rotunda for Alumni Library.