Van Wickle Hall through Williams Center

VAN WICKLE HALL

Location: South of Skillman Library, next to Colton Chapel

Date Built: 1899-1900; additions in 1913 and 1939; renovation in 1963

Architect: John McArthur Harris, Philadelphia; 1939 addition by Frank Boeshore, Philadelphia; 1963 renovation by Pharo & Haas, Bethlehem

Builder: Original builder unknown; 1939 addition by Henry E. Baton, Philadelphia

Originally called Van Wickle Memorial Library, it was named for Augustus S. Van Wickle, whose will had provided for a college library. A stack room was added in 1913 with funding from Van Wickle's daughter, Marjorie Van Wickle Lyon. In 1939, two wings were added, a larger wing on the north to increase stack capacity and study facilities, and a smaller west wing, which contained a reconstruction of the library of Fred Morgan Kirby from his Wilkes-Barre home, donated by Allan P. Kirby '15. With the construction of Skillman Library in 1963, Van Wickle was renovated to become the home of the geology department.

Architectural essay on Van Wickle Hall


WATSON COURTS

Location: East of Pardee Hall, on McCartney Street and Clinton Terrace

Date Built: 1972

Architect: Harbeson Hough Livingston & Larson, Philadelphia

Builder: R.C Ballinger Co., Wynnewood, Pennsylvania

The Jeannette Kittredge Watson Courts are apartments for student residence. They are a memorial to the wife of trustee and benefactor Thomas J. Watson.


WATSON HALL OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Location: West of Olin Hall and Alumni Hall of Engineering

Date Built: 1949; north wing added in 1956; south wing added in 1964

Architect: Donald Innes, Wilkes Barre Pennsylvania; south wing by Everett Associates, Allentown

Builder: Collins and Maxwell, Easton

Watson Hall was built as a school of international affairs, with student housing, classrooms, library and offices. It was named for its donor, trustee Thomas J. Watson. It is currently a student residence and home to the Public Information Office.


WEST COLLEGE (no longer standing)

Location: South of Kirby Hall of Civil Rights

Date Built: 1838

Architect: Unknown

Builder: Unknown

Originally called the Model School, it was built by President George Junkin to house the first school of practice, or teacher training school, in the United States. Over the years it served as a lecture hall, student residence and administration building. It was remodeled in 1873 and demolished after an extensive fire in 1953.


WILLIAMS CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Location: Northeast corner of Hamilton and High Streets

Date Built: 1983

Architect: Perkins & Will, Washington, D.C.

Builders: Irwin & Leighton, Philadelphia

The Morris R. Williams Center for the Arts is the college cultural center. It contains the departments of art and music, as well as theaters for the performing arts and an art gallery. It was the gift of Morris R. Williams '22 and Josephine C. Williams.


Text from "Historical Survey of the Buildings of Lafayette College." Compiled by Pamela S. Narbeth, College Archives. Easton, PA: Friends of Skillman Library, 1991. Images from the Lafayette College Archives.

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Last updated 27 July 1995