Historic Resource Survey Form : Gilbert Hall

4 pagesGilbert Hall was originally known as Commerce Hall. Construction was completed in 1921. It was the east wing of the “front pillars” of Ellis Lawrence’s axis plan, along with Peterson Hall which sits opposite to the west. Gilbert was constructed mainly out of brick with exquisite detailing of terra cotta and molded concrete. According to the Ellis Lawrence Survey (see Bibliography) it is built following the Modernized Byzantine style. Lawrence designed primary campus buildings such as Peterson and Gilbert in exotic styles, as seen in his other works on Memorial Quad, while he reserved Colonial Revival for secondary buildings (Education East, Education West, Women’s Memorial Quad buildings). Commerce remained as it was built until 1951when a large addition connected it to Peterson Hall. The ensemble became known as the Commonwealth Complex and the name “Gilbert Hall” was given to the large building that connected Commerce Hall and Peterson Hall (then known as the Education Building). In 1975 Commerce Hall was renamed Gilbert Hall and the original Gilbert Hall held the name Commonweath. Commonweath was later razed for construction of the new Lillis Business Complex. 1951 held many alterations for Gilbert Hall (Commerce). The Commonwealth addition obstructed the Dads’ Gates Axis originally intended by Ellis Lawrence and caused a need to elevate the grade of the courtyard. The first flight of the entry stair was removed to meet the level of the new re-grade and retaining walls around basement windows had to be built to compensate. The most startling alteration in 1951 was the truncation, or flattening, of the parapet on the entry façade. What was once a gabled parapet is now a flat grade. Also in 1951, the interior’s finished plaster was replaced, and acoustic ceiling tiles and new floors were installed. Many of the original doors were replaced with wood panel doors as well