University of Delaware Office of Public Relations The Messenger Vol. 5, No. 4/1996 Recitation Hall renovations restore historic details Once home to the library, the Agricultural Experiment Station and the first men's gymnasium, Recitation Hall, Recitation Annex and Taylor Hall have been renovated for use by the Department of Art. Located in the historic Old College area of the Newark campus, Recitation Hall and Recitation Annex are well into their second century. Their slightly younger companion, Taylor Hall, dates from 1905. "The renovation of these buildings is part of an ongoing plan to restore our historic buildings, and there will be more to come," according to David E. Hollowell, UD executive vice president. Designed in 1891 by the prominent Philadelphia architect Frank Furness, Recitation Hall was built by Joseph T. Willis in 1891-92. In his book, The University of Delaware: A History, John A. Munroe, H. Rodney Sharp Professor Emeritus of History, wrote: "Offices, as well as classrooms, were set up in Recitation Hall, and in a few years the library was moved here-first in 1896, to a room on the second floor, and then to larger quarters on the third floor. Commencement exercises (with frock coats or cutaways, but no caps and gowns yet) and student dances were also held on the third floor of Recitation Hall, which soon rivaled Old College as a center of activity." Today, the 21,300-square-foot building in the Old College Historic District has been transformed by architects Moeckel Carbonell Associates Inc. Completed in June, the renovation included new mechanical systems, interior partitioning and exterior upgrades. A new elevator, bathrooms and entrance provide handicapped access. Elements of Furness' original details have been preserved, particularly on the third floor. Furness designed cusped brackets (steel arches) to support the mansard roof. The brackets perform their function so well that the architects were able to remove interior walls that had been added over the years and restore the large studios that Furness originally designed. The massive beams he had installed proved to be ideal supports for the air handling systems recently installed. Home to the art department since 1960, Recitation Hall contains critique studios, studio workspace, faculty offices, art offices, a lighting studio, a department gallery, a lecture room, a computing facility, a conference room and two large studio spaces. Martha Carothers, chairperson of the Department of Art, says Recitation Hall now suits the needs of the department, instead of faculty members having to use the existing spaces. "What was most significant for us was working with the architects and seeing how they were able to use space. They did a good job of assessing our needs and working within the confines of the buildings," Carothers says. Recitation Annex, designed by another Philadelphia architect, Louis Springer, and built in 1887, was the original Agricultural Experiment Station. At one time, visual communications was housed there but, more recently, the annex has provided studio painting space for graduate students. The 3,500- square-foot building underwent a total redo, Milene Jones, administrative assistant in the department, says, and it again provides space for graduate students. Renovations were completed in June. Located behind Old College, Taylor Hall was the original men's gym at the University. According to Munroe, students in 1927 wanted to improve the existing facility and build a new pool, the old one being "hardly more than an overgrown bathtub." A University Student Council campaign raised $50,000 for a remodeled gym, which included space for bleachers. The pool was closed during the '70s, and Army R.O.T.C. was housed there. Later, the Department of Art used Taylor Hall for studio courses. Today, the facility houses the painting, drawing, photography, fibers and illustration sections of the art department in its 10,400-square-foot space. These disciplines pose special demands for ventilation and exhaust, making it logical to house them in one building. Extensive enhancements to the structure included new electrical, plumbing and sprinkler systems and an elevator as well as construction of a new mezzanine and handicapped access. Work was completed in early 1995. Construction costs for Recitation Hall, the Annex and Taylor Hall were $5.4 million, with $2.7 million provided by the state and $2.7 million from the University and private funds. Work on these buildings has allowed the Department of Art to relocate its various sections in a more logical manner and to group similar functions together, according to Chuck Dobbs, the UD architectural designer who was directly involved with the projects. -Gerry Elter