Fraternity houses get new look, new use, new name

The Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures has a new home on the North Green near Old College, named in honor of two longtime University benefactors.

 Two former fraternity houses near Elliott and Mechanical halls were acquired by the University, joined by a central structure and extensively renovated. The building is designed to house 60 faculty offices, language laboratories, offices for graduate students and adjunct professors and conference space.

At its semiannual meeting in December, the University’s Board of Trustees voted to name the building Jastak-Burgess Hall in honor of Sarah Jastak-Burgess, AS ’54M, ’63PhD, and her husband, Leslie M. Burgess.

Jastak-Burgess Hall incorporates two former fraternity houses, Sigma Phi Epsilon (1922) and Sigma Nu (1929), both designed by architects Day & Klauder, who also planned the 40 acres that comprise or border The Green.

The renovated building features a portico with white columns at the entrance, leading inside to a reception area with indoor pillars and stairways. At the south end of the building is the Rollins Conference Center, furnished with a large conference table and chairs used by the late John W. Rollins Sr., noted local business executive, and donated by his wife, Michele.

The architect for the renovation was Anderson, Brown, Higley Associates of Wilmington, Del.