| Ida Noyes Hall | |
| Location: | 1212 East 59th Street Chicago, Illinois 60637 United States |
| Coordinates: | 41.7879°N -87.5956°W |
| Building Type: | College, Cinema, Theater |
| Completion Date: | 1916 |
| Architect: | Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge[1] |
Ida Noyes Hall is a three-story, Neo-Gothic building located on the University of Chicago campus in Chicago, Illinois. Designed by Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge and completed in 1916, the building features fireplaces, a limestone exterior, intricately plastered ceilings, and elaborate wood paneling.
Ida Noyes Hall originally served as a women's clubhouse and gymnasium, and was built as a complement to the Reynolds Club and Hutchinson Commons, which provided social and recreational spaces for the men on campus. The construction of the building was made possible by a gift from La Verne Noyes in the memory of his late wife, Ida.[2] [3] Ida Noyes, née Smith, was born in Croton, N.Y., in 1853, though her family relocated to Iowa in 1857. She graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in teaching in 1874 and married La Verne Noyes in 1877.[4] Upon its opening, Ida Noyes Hall hosted public lectures, club meetings, and social events.
In January 2005 a portrait of Ida Noyes, painted by Oliver Dennett Grover and donated to the building by La Verne Noyes, was stolen from the building.[5]
In 1987, the gymnasium was converted into Max Palevsky Cinema. Since that time, Doc Films has screened movies every night of the academic year.[6] In 1995, the murals on the third floor, originally created in 1918 to commemorate the quarter centennial of the University of Chicago and the opening of Ida Noyes Hall, were restored.[7] [8] In 2007, the building underwent repairs to address a crumbling facade and leaking roof, and in 2008, the University's Booth School of Business renovated the natatorium to create additional study space for student study groups.[9] [10] [11]
Currently, Ida Noyes Hall hosts student events, academic department events, corporate recruiting sessions, and private parties.[12] It is home to the University of Chicago Pub and the Office of Career Advancement.[13] [14]