Woodrow Wilson Hall Explained

Location:	Harrisonburg, Virginia
Coordinates:	38.4381°N -78.8732°W
Status:	Complete
Completion Date:	1931
Est Completion:	1931^[1]
Building Type:	University campus building
Top Floor:	3
Floor Count:	3
Cost:	~$250,000^[2]
Architect:	Charles M. Robinson
Developer:	Nielsen Construction Company
Owner:	James Madison University
Management:	James Madison University

Woodrow Wilson Hall (also known as Wilson Hall) is an American building on the campus of James Madison University (JMU) located on the center of the university's quadrangle in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Dedicated on 15 May 1931, the building's namesake is President Woodrow Wilson, who was born in nearby Staunton.

The cornerstone of Wilson Hall was laid on June 19, 1930.^[3] The building was constructed out of a blue-gray colored limestone block known as "bluestone"^[4] mined from several local quarries.^[5]

Occupancy and use

Wilson Hall initially served as the main administration building for the university and housed the president's office, the post office, classrooms (located on the second and third floors), and the first permanent auditorium on campus (built with a capacity to seat 1,400). During the late 1930s, a recording and broadcasting studio was built in the basement. In the late 1960s, Wilson Hall hosted a men's lounge. For a number of years, the art department was housed within the building. The last classroom, a geography classroom/laboratory was moved out of Wilson Hall in 1990-91. Currently, Wilson Hall houses the student administrative offices.^[6]

Architecture

The building was designed by architect Charles M. Robinson. Constructed as the centerpiece of the JMU quadrangle, Wilson Hall is a three-story building featuring a portico supported with four Roman Doric columns, and a hipped roof topped with a cupola. The inset windows of the building are enclosed by bluestone walls, and are placed in bays with a variable rhythm of three, one, and two. Facing northwest, Wilson Hall is flanked by Maury Hall (built in 1909) and Keezell Hall (built in 1927)^[7]

In popular culture

The building is so loved by alumni and fans alike, that it has even been enshrined in LEGO form with multiple, custom building sets available.

Notes and References

1. "Program of Exercises Marking the Dedication of Woodrow Wilson Hall and the Completion of the Quadrangle", State Teachers College, Harrisonburg, VA. May 15, 1931 (pamphlet from JMU Carrier Library, Special Collections)
2. News: Mrs. Wilson To Attend Harrisonburg Ceremony: College Building Dedicated. Roanoke Times. Roanoke, Virginia. May 1, 1931.
3. "Ceremony and Program: Laying the Cornerstone of the Main Building of Harrisonburg Teachers College", Rockingham Union Lodge No. 27 A.F. and A.M., June 19, 1930 (pamphlet from JMU Carrier Library, Special Collections)
4. Web site: Colleges and Universities: James Madison University (Wilson Hall). Dianne Harrah. March 14, 2016. Wolf Run Studio (SM). Clifton, VA. 1995.
5. News: James Madison University: Buildings Reflect History of University. Inside Nielsen: A Publication of Nielsen Builders. Spring 2007. 13.
6. Web site: Major Buildings: A snapshot in time of the major buildings. March 14, 2016. James Madison University. Harrisonburg, Virginia. March 2008.
7. Web site: Overview of: James Madison University. Anne Carter Lee (writer). Ann E. McCleary. March 15, 2016. Society of Architectural Historians (SAH Archipedia: Classic Buildings), and the University of Virginia Press. Chicago, IL. 2015.